The Differences Between Development Approaches: Why & When

There are several well-known digital services & and software development approaches, each with its strengths and weaknesses.

The choice of a digital system development approach depends on various factors, including the nature of the project, the requirements, the team's expertise, and the timeline. There are several well-known development approaches, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Here are a few prominent ones:

Waterfall Methodology

When? ?Waterfall is suitable when the requirements are well-defined and stable, and changes are expected to be minimal during development.

How???It follows a linear sequence of phases: requirements, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance.

Strengths

• System requirements identified long before construction begins
• Requirements are “frozen”, crystal clear requirements as project proceeds – no moving targets allowed

Weaknesses

• Must wait a long time before there is “visible” evidence of the new system
• Long time, work for 1 year before your client sees a product but if you guys don't like it then you have to restart
• Takes a long time from start to finish

Agile Methodology

When???Agile is ideal when requirements are dynamic and subject to change, and delivering incremental improvements is important.

How???It involves iterative cycles (sprints) of planning, development, testing, and review, with continuous user feedback guiding the process.

Strengths

• Output is faster in users hands
• Fast delivery of results
• Works well in projects with undefined or changing requirements

Weaknesses

• Requires discipline
• Significant user involvement is essential
• Initial high learning curve

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