subject: Changing Application Development Needs [print this page] Changing Application Development Needs Changing Application Development Needs
With increase in software development services, IT sector has seen a blossoming with new software development methodologies. Software developers are a significant group that has a great impact in all walks of our life. IT sector is an evolving field that sees various developments each day. The software development model is actually an organized strategy. It helps in carrying out the steps in software application development life cycle in a conventional, efficient, and repeatable method. The methodologies that were successful earlier now seem outdated with the rise in demand for better functional software's. Over the past years, a number of best practices have slowly been evolved among enterprise software developers. Majority of software development methodologies applied for application development are similar in one way or the other.
The earliest software development methodology is waterfall method that follows a sequential step-by-step method right from start of software development process to maintaining the developed application. This model does not cater to changes that are sure to occur during the software development cycle. Advancement to waterfall method is the spiral model that is more iterative software development methodology. The software development team starts with a small set of requirements for each phase of software development. The spiral way helps them in adding the additional requirement that arise after each phase is complete. Spiral method is suited for projects that are large, expensive, and complicated. The hybrid model of software development is in fact a mixture of all software development methodologies appropriate for very large projects. With adaptive nature of hybrid methodology, it is easy to reduce over-budget and delayed schedule issues.
These were some of the conventional software development methodologies. The introduction of novel light-weight' agile model for software development was in view to adapt the rapidly changing business requirements. It is more adaptive that being predictive in matters of software development that are apparent to change with time. Agile software development methodology helps businesses to respond quickly to market changes. The time thus saved is utilized in developing features that will bring the most value to the business.
There are many things to be considered before adopting a software development methodology. The choice should not be based on it is always the same we have done', rather should look into the extent of project requirement, its flexibility, and the time for product and services to market including the cost effectiveness.
