Agile Methodology

Agile methodology is a flexible and iterative approach to software development that focuses on collaboration and responsiveness to changing requirements. It emphasizes the delivery of working software in small, frequent releases, enabling continuous feedback and adjustment throughout the development process.

What is Agile Methodology?

Agile methodology is a popular project management approach that prioritizes collaboration, adaptability, and customer satisfaction over everything else. It is based on the ‘Agile Manifesto,’ which represents a set of principles for software development that values individuals and interactions, response to change, working software, and even customer collaboration.

There are several agile methodologies, each with its approach and set of practices. Some of the most popular ones are:

1. 1. Scrum: This method works in short sprints, usually 2-4 weeks long. Teams are expected to deliver working software by the end of each sprint.
      
   2. Kanban: This is more of a visual approach that uses a “pull” system where team members pull work from a queue as they have capacity rather than working on a fixed schedule.
      

• XP (Extreme Programming): XP emphasizes practices such as continuous testing, pair programming, and frequent releases. In this method, teams work in short iterations of 1-2 weeks and aim to deliver working software by the end of each iteration.
  

• Crystal: This method emphasizes the importance of team communication and individual skills. Teams work in medium-range iterations, usually 2-8 weeks long, and focus on developing a working solution that meets customers’ needs.
  
• DSDM (Dynamic Systems Development Method): In this method, teams emphasize collaboration, communication, and frequent delivery. Most DSDM teams work in medium sprints, generally 6-8 weeks, and aim to deliver a working product at the end of each timebox.

One of the primary reasons why an increasing number of software development teams use this methodology is its ability to rapidly adapt to changing requirements and feedback. Because it makes the entire development process iterative and incremental, the approach allows teams to adjust their strategy quickly based on previous sprints.

Why Use Agile Methodology?

There are several reasons why organizations use agile methodology, including:

• Shorter development cycles and regular release mean faster time-to-market and competitive advantage.
  
• The flexible and adaptable approach allows businesses to respond quickly to changing requirements or market conditions.
  
• Promotes cross-functional collaboration, leading to better efficiency and output.
  
• Enables continuous development based on recurring feedback and testing, which results in high-quality products and services.
  
• Supports customer involvement in the development process, helping organizations meet (and exceed) customer expectations.

Agile Methodology with Incredibuild

Incredibuild accelerates development on a number of platforms, IDE, and developer environments. As such, it allows you to iterate more often and reach milestones more effectively and on time. You can use Incredibuild with your existing tools with no changes to your code, processes, or toolchains, so you can leverage your reduced build times into faster agile sprints. Try incredibuild now!