11 Top Software Development Methodologies and Their Pros & Cons

Software development methodologies are nothing but different product organization methods for your software development workflow.

All methodologies have numerous strengths and limitations and work differently in different situations. Therefore, to effectively handle your specific software development project, you need to choose the right software development methodology that will provide smooth development.

To help you analyze which one suits your project requirements most, we have compiled the 11 most commonly used software methodologies to develop custom software products. So, let’s get started.

What is Software Development Methodology?

The software development methodology is a process framework that the team of software engineers follows to develop applications that satisfy changing requirements, timelines, and user stories to lower the failure rate. It is a collection of roles, rules, and best practices about how to develop and create apps.

It definitely does not entail the use of any technical elements but involves careful planning for the software development lifecycle.

11 Best Software Development Methodologies in 2021

From the versatile software development methodologies list, let’s start with the most popular method to look for in 2021.

1. Agile Software Development Methodology

   Agile software development is a technique used to design a process of disciplined software management that often enables the development project to shift regularly. This approach for software development is a systematic structure for conducting different projects in software engineering.

   Agile separates work into distinct phases called sprints. Each sprint lasts a few weeks, during which a list of deliverables is pursued by team members. The agile development team members check the task, along with the Scrum master, as the sprint finishes.

   

   If you’re looking for a framework for agile development that can help you deal with the volatile marketplace dominated by consumers, then you can definitely consider implementing the philosophy of Agile software development.

   Pros & Cons:

   Pros	Cons
   Highly adaptive approach Low risk Direct communication and high transparency Frequent releases and feedback collection Early release of a working product Early detection of defects and fixed for a fraction of the cost Great customer satisfaction	Not ideal for beginners and inexperienced developers Lacks documentation efficiency Need extensive training to understand project process Need constant attention, otherwise, the agile development project can lose the track

2. DevOps Deployment Methodology

   DevOps is not only a methodology for development but rather a series of activities that sustain an organizational culture. The deployment of DevOps focuses on operational reform that strengthens coordination between the divisions responsible for various parts of the development life cycle, such as development, quality assurance, and operations.

   

   So, if you’re the founder of a technology startup and looking for a quicker way to build apps or one of the project managers who are more effective for a series of program testing procedures, then DevOps may be what the organization wants.

   Pros & Cons:

   Pros	Cons
   Rapid and continuous delivery of working software Deploy new processes, systems, and applications easily Fewer chances for mistakes as the software development team is working closely Improves the customer experience Continuous integration Reliability with increasing changes Collaborative platform Accountability and ownership Minimizes disruption	DevOps demands culture change Require a lot of human interaction Require extensive testing Need high skilled developers

3. Waterfall Development Method

   The waterfall method is a rigid linear model consisting of sequential phases based on multiple targets (requirements, design, execution, verification, maintenance). Each step must be 100 percent completed before the next step can start. It means, no reversible modifications can be made in the waterfall development for any requirements.

   As the cycles are long and are very inflexible, this model is also known as a heavyweight technique. The waterfall method does not accept change but it consists of special features to make it unique.

   

   The waterfall method is mostly used by plan-driven teams who have a very good view of the nature of the project. However, with the versatility and mobility of more modern methodologies, development teams who do not work in a gap can generally find better outcomes with the Waterfall model.

   Pros & Cons:

   Pros	Cons
   Easy to understand and straightforward Best for a small team size of business Simple enough to manage the project process Saves a lot of time Easy testing and analysis Fixed deadline for each project Faster delivery	Can not go back to change or modify The waterfall approach can not handle large risks Not suitable for large software engineering projects Hard to measure the outcome before the delivery



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4. Rapid Application Development

   Rapid Application Development (RAD) is an efficient technique that promises much faster development and outcomes of better product quality than those obtained by other software development methodologies. It is designed in such a manner that a software developer will conveniently take full advantage of it. The key aim of this approach is to speed up the whole process of software development.

   There are four steps in the rapid application development methodology: planning, user design, building, and switchover. The processes of user design and development repeat until the user agrees that all requirements are fulfilled by the product.

   

   If your market priorities are well-defined and limited, then you should go for Rapid Application Development (RAD).

   Pros & Cons:

   Pros	Cons
   Easy to understand Reduced risk Fewer efforts Minimizes the errors in the system development process Easy to collect feedback from customers for improvement Delivers the high functionality Proved to be the best for small to medium size projects	No ideal for low budgets Demands highly skilled developers Not suitable for large software engineering projects Hard to track the progress and problems Works on modularized system Highly dependent on the performance of the team

5. Feature-Driven Development (FDD)

   Feature Driven Development is an iterative approach for software development designed for large teams using object-oriented programming operating on a project.

   FDD has five phases and out of which the first is to build an overall model. After that, create a list of features and then schedule each feature accordingly. The final two phases will take up much of the time, plan by feature and create by feature. Status monitoring is recommended at each stage and helps monitor improvement, consequences, and potential mistakes.

   

   For a development organization transitioning from a phase-based development approach to an iterative approach, this type of model is perfect.
   Pros & Cons:

   Pros	Cons
   Rapid system development Multiple teams can work simultaneously Easy to obtain repeatable success It follows software development industry-recognized practices Provides greater output with 5 step software development procedure	Not suitable for smaller projects Not ideal for an individual developer No documentation Success depends on the leaders and main project manager

6. Scrum Method

   The Scrum development methodology can be used in virtually all project forms. As a phase of software development, it starts with a brief plan for each sprint, followed by regular scrum meetings that demonstrate the success of the project, and concludes with final analysis.

   The technique of Scrum is suitable for conducting tasks with customer input and specifications that are not clearly described. Using this approach that makes a sequence of prototypes in a single go, software development companies can speed up app development.

   

   The Scrum approach is most suitable for the management of projects with customer input and specifications that are not clearly defined. Teamwork, openness, and frequent status reports allow the success of the project to be accelerated.

   Pros & Cons:

   Pros	Cons
   Frequent release Frequent meetings and sessions that enhance productivity Extremely flexible approach Customer feedback and review process collection is easy and fast Delivers quality product Errors can easily be identified Easy to cope with changes Documentation is not compulsory due to its flexible nature	Not ideal for junior or mid-level developers Need constant communication Scales poorly for large teams Frequent team composition changes make it hard to determine the productivity

7. Extreme Programming

   Another agile methodology that focuses on the development of higher-build quality applications using best software development practices in software development is Extreme Programming (XP). Extreme Programming methodology encourages occasional launches in quick production sprints and, as in most Agile strategies, it facilitates improvement when appropriate.

   In particular, extreme programming (XP) methodology embraces a series of principles rather than steps, including simplicity (developing software on what is needed, nothing more); collaboration (teams need to cooperate on development tools and function together); consistent feedback; and consideration.

   

   This approach provides developers with the provision to provide a finished product at a reduced investment cost. Around the same time, due to the daily sessions, test-driven methodology, and pair programming, a lot of human activity end up slowing down the delivery pipeline.
   Pros & Cons:

   Pros	Cons
   Cost-effective High focus on planning and task scheduling Great for small as well as large teams Effective risk management High transparency Works best in an unstable environment Emphasize customer involvement Easy to develop high-quality software	Requires frequent meetings Too many development process changes The future outcome is uncertain Demands 100% dedication

8. Lean Development Method

   The lean model emphasizes the development of easily manageable applications as a technological progression. This exquisitely crafted technique of development is more purposefully integrated than any other form of agile methodology.

   This approach is designed to develop the software one-third of the time, with a relatively small budget and a much smaller volume of the essential workflow. This is done by removing everything that does not contribute many benefits to the process of test-driven development.

   Lean is a software development workflow technique and a mindset at once, integrating industrial space concepts and standards and extending them widely to a number of sectors, including software development.

   Pros & Cons:

   Pros	Cons
   The speedy software development process Efficient budget control Best for early-stage startups Easily eliminate the waste Improves decision-making ability Delivers high-quality product Greater flexibility	Highly depends on the project development team involvement Not effective, if there’s no right business analyst in the team Can easily lose focus due to excessive flexibility



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9. Prototype Methodology

   The Prototype approach is the phase of product development that requires developers to create only the prototype of the app product to show its features to consumers. They envision how it will work and show to investors or customers its purpose.

   In order to build the final mobile application, the developers subsequently make all the requisite adjustments in preparation. This technique provides space for the comprehension of software development criteria and the execution of valuable market research.

   

   The strongest attribute of this approach for software development is that it addresses a multitude of problems that sometimes arise in a typical waterfall life cycle model.

   Pros & Cons:

   Pros	Cons
   Early identification of risks Easy business requirements documentation gathering and planning Reduced risk Clear idea about the project process Better communication An effective approach to demonstrate the product to a client	High project management cost Excessive client involvement affects the process Not ideal for projects where too many modifications required

10. Spiral Model

    The spiral model is the combination of Agile and waterfall methodology that mostly focus on early risk detection and mitigation.

    The developers start on a small scale, then explore the project risks, make a risk management strategy, and eventually determine whether to take the next phase in the project to do the next iteration of the spiral. Performance of any Spiral Lifecycle Model depends on the project’s efficient, diligent, and competent management.

    

    The spiral approach helps the developer to make improvements in the code or design even in the testing stage, in comparison to the waterfall model. It is appropriate for almost all types of projects, however effective management is needed.

    Pros & Cons:

    Pros	Cons
    Fewer risk factors Works best for large scale projects Easy cost estimation Easy access to additional functionality Develops quality products	Not appropriate for low-risk projects Costly Model If risk analysis is not conducted properly, the project may get damaged

11. Joint Application Development Methodology

    Joint application development is a technique for the development of standards and user interfaces in which end-users, stakeholders, and engineers hold intensive off-site sessions to hammer out and finalize software applications. The goal of this approach is to include the customer in an application’s design and creation.

    

    With a series of interactive seminars, JAD sessions quickly achieve end goals. Instead of technological information systems, the key purpose of this dynamic systems development model is to fix the business issue. Initially, this approach was developed for computer-based applications but has been successfully used for all sorts of development processes.

    Pros & Cons:

    Pros	Cons
    Collaboration between company and client reduces risks Favorable assistance Provides a forum to explore multiple points Improved system quality Information system is produced in a short span of time	Takes a lot of time to deliver the product Demands high skilled engineers Different points of view

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Conclusion

Technology has paved the way for unique inventions, and software development workflows are no different. The key thing is that it deals with a number of complexities, involving expert handling. The latest technologies in software system developtment have defined methodologies that work on such platforms, giving them the ability to operate.

Thus, before choosing any of these development methods for your software development projects, you must have knowledge of all these methodologies. However, it is highly recommended to contact a competent software development firm for improved results. All the best!