Agile development methodology is a way of building
software that makes it possible to take advantage of the system before it is ready.
It also encourages developers to constantly improve.
As a result, your less experienced employees are
trained hands-on by more experienced professionals. The use of agile software
development methodology is increasingly popular.
Methodologies of this type are alternatives to the
traditional model of building applications. They are used to streamline the
work of developers and generate continuous improvement for
processes.
Read on to understand their advantages and other
important details about them!
Understanding
the concept further
Also known as SAFe
Agilist Training Pennsylvania, these methodologies encourage
communication. In this way, the various agents involved in the software
development process interact.
Everyone must be included in the development
process: from the end customer to the infrastructure technicians, through
programmers, analysts, testers and users.
By using agile software development methodologies,
project managers can make the process more interactive and with chances of
achieving the expected result in less time.
There is also the advantage that agile methods
offer new ways to manage software development teams, especially by placing
users as active participants in the construction of solutions.
Different
types of agile software development methodologies
There are countless methods collectively known as
agile. All of them promote the values of the so-called Agile Manifesto , a movement started in 2006,
which, among other points, defined the valuation of:
·
Individuals and interactions more than just
processes and tools;
·
Software that works with much more comprehensive
documentation;
·
Customer collaboration that goes beyond contract
negotiation;
·
Quick responses, continuous testing and changes
throughout the project following a structured plan.
Check out the most widely adopted types of agile
methodology around the world below!
Dynamic
Systems Development Method (DSDM)
Dynamic Systems Development is probably the
original method of agile software development. It existed even before the term
“agile” was invented and is anchored in all the principles we mentioned.
Despite being adopted all over the world, DSDM is a
very well known and used methodology in the United Kingdom. It values
iterative and incremental development, which emphasizes the constant
involvement of the users who are the recipients of the solution.
SCRUM
Very popular in United State, this agile
development method mainly focuses on managing tasks within a team-based
development environment.
It is relatively simple to implement and addresses
many of the complex management aspects that often pose a headache for
development teams.
In short, we can say that the use of Scrum imposes
a certain discipline, which allows a closer monitoring of the project's
progress. Your deliveries can be even weekly, delivering faster value.
Extreme
Programming (XP)
As its name suggests, Extreme Programming is one of
the most radical agile software development methodologies. It focuses more on
the solution engineering process and approaches analysis, development and
testing with innovative approaches that
make a big difference in the final quality of the systems.
MSF
The Microsoft Solutions Framework is how the
Silicon Valley giant manages and develops its software. This methodology
values, among other things, the partnership with the client.
As with other agile development methodologies,
there is a culture of adapting to changes. Open communication is encouraged,
generating transparency in the process.
Lean
The Lean method values the search for efficiency.
With constant communication and integration between employees, it can adapt
quickly to changes.
In order for the objectives to be achieved,
attitude takes precedence over planning. In this method, the ability to adapt
is a fundamental skill to be developed by employees.
Top
certifications in agile software development methodologies
Another important point when we talk about agile
development methods is the in-depth knowledge that project managers and
development professionals must have to deal with them.
See below a list of the main certifications that
can guarantee the expertise of a team focused on developing solutions based on
agile methodologies:
·
Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) : conceived
by the Project Management Institute (PMI), it is aimed at project management
professionals;
·
APMG International : also aimed at agile
development project managers;
·
Strategies Certificate: aimed at full-time
developers and project managers, it is offered by Twenty Eighty Strategy
Execution, in partnership with George Washington University;
·
Professional Scrum Master (PSM) : it is the
number one certification in the world in Scrum, recommended to every
professional who wants to prove their knowledge in this method.
Key factors every professional should know about
agile software development methodologies
Recently
Gartner , the largest information technology research organization in
the world, listed 10 basic principles about agile methods. In a nutshell, here
they are:
·
Agile methodologies are plural, despite
comprising a set of approaches with a philosophy: do more and better in less
time;
·
They should not be implemented halfway, as they
can hinder more than help when not followed to the letter from beginning to
end;
·
IT and business must integrate when working with
agile methods, since developers act more focused on the strategic objectives of
the companies;
·
It's best to master the basics before
progressing to advanced — the professionals' experience says a lot about the
results obtained and, we know, experiences come with time;
·
Lessons learned must be taken from all projects,
always aiming for improvements in the next rounds of development;
·
Teamwork must always be encouraged and revered:
diverge and collaborate are two fundamental verbs!
·
It is important to work to combat the so-called
“technical gaps”, that is, to configure elements necessary for refactoring;
·
There is little care when outsourcing,
especially due to the need to interact with the users for whom the solution is
being developed;
·
It is important to prepare the team for changes,
as the concept of continuous delivery requires constant changes in work
practices;
·
Not all
applications should be developed
with agile methods, some are better suited to incremental, interactive or
traditional methodologies.
Knowing some
tools
Every process has its methods. Next, you will be
transported into an agile project room. We will list the main tools used in an
agile development methodology. Check out!
Sprint
To have agility, it is necessary to have constant
deliveries. The work interval between one delivery and another is called a
Sprint. Each sprint has clear delivery goals.
At the beginning of it, a meeting is held between
the team and the product owner. In this meeting, it is defined what will be
delivered at the end of that sprint. Prototypes are approved and the team
starts work.
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During the sprint, what was agreed is developed.
Daily, the team meets for 15 minutes to share the status of activities. At the
end of the sprint, there is another meeting where the activities are delivered
and approved.
Kanban
This is a frame on which tasks are placed. Post-its
are usually used for each task. Kanban is basically divided into to-do,
in-progress and ready-to-deliver tasks.
As the sprint progresses, team members update the
progress of tasks. The customer and managers also have access to Kanban. That
way, everyone can track the progress of the sprint.
Burndown
Chart
One of the most interesting tools in SCRUM, it
provides a projection on possible sprint delays. This graph is updated as tasks
are completed.
Just by looking at it, it is possible to have an
idea if the sprint is late or if it will be a success, delivering everything
that was promised. With the use of this tool, actions can be taken in advance.
Debunking the main myths of agile software
development methodologies
Finally, it is also important to recognize that
there are many myths surrounding agile development methods. Meet the main ones.
Agile
methods are messy or help to circumvent processes
It is a mistake to think of a mess or “way” during
an agile development project. On the contrary, agile development methodologies
are disciplined and require repeated testing, obtaining feedback, sending parts
of the solution to users before finalization, changing and updating the project
action plan, etc.
Agile
methods are only for small teams
No matter the size of the project and no matter the
number of people involved, agile development methodologies can be applied to
any team. They are also applicable in geographically dispersed teams,
significantly improving collaboration between remote professionals.
Agile
methods cause a lot of rework
Quite the opposite! Agile methodologies promote the
reduction of errors and reworks, as they provide for shorter and faster
delivery cycles, continuous testing and user evaluations.
Agile
methods are “anti-documentation”
It is important to remember that every agile
software development methodology is focused on speed and effectiveness.
Therefore, less bureaucratic projects, with less documentation, tend to emerge
from these practices. This does not mean that the planning and construction and
delivery phases do not need to be documented. It just means that less time is
wasted on paperwork to gain more time on construction!
An overview
of agile development methodology
In this article you learned that this way of
building software consists of constant deliveries. These deliverable make it
possible to obtain project results in advance.
Another important feature of any agile development
methodology is to value progressive communication. This has the advantage of
identifying problems earlier and solving them faster.
This type of methodology encourages continuous
process improvement. It can be customized for your company. There are so many
advantages that it is worth investing in an expert professional to help you.
One of the primary items in the day-to-day of agile
development is the prototypes. Meet John
Labunski. With it, you can design your prototypes without having
to program a single line!
