No matter what the project is about, every software development team wants to create the best project: one that is bug-free, shows the best performance, and meets the customer’s needs. However, the software development cycle involves many things that can slow down the project or create expectations and communication problems between developers.
One way to remedy these situations is by adopting Agile practices. First, we are going to explain to you what Agile is, the best practices, and how these can improve the performance of software developers so that they create better projects.
Agile Basics to Get Started
The Agile methodology was born with the desire to discover new ways to develop better software, giving more importance to individuals and interactions rather than processes and tools, as you can read in the Agile Manifesto.
The basic idea of the Agile methodology is to respond quickly to changes that occur in the project, instead of following a rigid plan that may not be as effective. They prioritize collaboration with the client at each stage of the project so that each iteration meets their requirements, to in the end obtain the most functional software possible with the complete respective documentation.
What is achieved with this style of work is greater agility in software development, speed added to the software cycle, and adaptability increases, which represents a competitive advantage in the market.
“Agile organizations often replace top-down structures with flexible and scalable networks of teams. Agile networks must operate with high standards of alignment, responsibility, experience, transparency, and collaboration”, they added in an article by the McKinsey firm.
Benefits of Agile Methodologies
Continuous Improvements Based on Feedback
In a traditional project, a development plan is followed that remains unchanged until the end, regardless of whether the result is good or not. In the case of Agile, great importance is given to feedback at each stage of development, whether from the team itself or from the client, to try to create the best possible final product, which satisfies the interested parties, as they point out in an Institute of Data article.
All this avoids customer disappointment in the end, avoids a bad user experience, and also prevents the development team from having to make a double effort.
Adaptability
When working on a project under the Agile methodology, changes are not a problem. When a rigid plan is followed, a change means throwing the entire project out of balance. In the case of Agile, having flexibility in the face of changes is key to making the necessary adjustments to the project so that it continues to meet the client’s expectations.
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Iterations
One of the most distinctive characteristics of agile development projects is that the results are delivered in small and incremental parts. “In agile software development, the cycle is Analyze, Develop, Test; Analyze, Develop, Test; and so on… performing each step for each feature, one feature at a time”, they noted on the 101 Ways portal.
Agile Practices That Developers Can Use to Create Better Projects
Whether a junior or senior developer, you should know the software development methodologies that exist, as well as the basics of Agile. This will always work in favor of your performance, you will better understand how to work within a project, and you will understand better with the members of the development team.
Communication Guidelines
If communication is one of the pillars of the Agile methodology, then certain communication guidelines must be established so that all the developers on the team can understand each other and so that the work flows smoothly. In a BusinessMap article, they highlight that this aspect is even more important when it comes to remote teams.
Refactoring
Agile focuses on continuous improvement, so developers can constantly improve the code base, making small changes that increase its quality and maintainability.
Sprint
The use of sprints is classic and essential in the Agile methodology. A sprint records all the tasks of a project, which must be completed within the duration of that sprint.
Continuous Integration
“Just as we think of cross-functional teams working together throughout the project, continuous integration means that project elements from different groups must be brought together continuously so that no project element becomes a silo”, they pointed out on the Project Management Institute portal.
Prioritize Customer Collaboration
“The agile approach to project management places emphasis on common synchronization points with clients in the process. These are extremely important in an uncertain environment because they allow quick feedback and provide valuable information for the next part of the project plan,” they noted in BusinessMap.
Use Time Ranges Instead of Specific Dates
In traditional projects, we have seen that work is based on delivery dates, and it is not bad, but this can generate pressure on the team to finish the project, subtracting quality from the final result. If software developers work by time frames, they can tell the client that their project will be ready within 15 days, rather than giving them a date that may be missed.
