14/03/2025
Ideal Software Development Methodology
-----------------------------------------------
"The way a product is being developed."
Well then, which one is the right methodology for your product or business? The answer is, no one really knows for sure. I talked to many developers who have experience working at tech giants like Microsoft, Salesforce, and even small startups. No one could say, “This is the exact methodology we used for every product.” Companies usually follow structured SDLC approaches like Agile or Scrum, but they also tweak them based on their needs.
At the end of the day, business is what matters. But don’t stress—you don’t need to be super innovative. Everything has already been invented and used for years. You just need to find, mix, and build your own way of doing things in SDLC.
Some Popular SDLC Methodologies
-------------------------------------------
Here are some well-known SDLC methodologies:
1. Agile
Switch tasks based on business priorities.
This is the most popular one these days. You might plan a task based on what’s important at the moment, but priorities can change anytime.
For example, imagine you’re working for an e-commerce company. Suddenly, a competitor launches a new product, and your marketplace needs a separate UX to stay ahead. Your team may have been working on something else, but with Agile, you can shift gears fast and adapt to the new situation.
2. Waterfall
A structured workflow planned in advance until the next release or sprint.
Waterfall isn’t a great fit for most modern, fast-moving projects. Business won’t wait for your next release. If you do, your competitors will take your market share. However, in industries like healthcare, government, and large-scale engineering, where requirements don’t change frequently, Waterfall is still used.
3. Lean
Originally developed by Toyota to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
The idea is to find and fix bottlenecks so things run smoother. The focus is on making the process better so the product comes out better too. Lean is great if you want to speed things up and cut down on unnecessary work.
- So, What About Agile?
Agile has a few popular ways of working, like:
a) Scrum
Work in sprints with a clear goal for a short time.
Scrum works by setting a goal for a short period (usually two weeks) called a sprint. During the sprint, developers aim to stay focused on their assigned tasks and avoid switching priorities. However, urgent changes (like critical bug fixes) can still happen if necessary.
Each sprint has a Scrum Master, who makes sure everything runs smoothly. Every day, the team does a standup meeting where everyone gives a quick update on what they’re working on.
b) Kanban
Tasks are listed and managed based on priority.
In Kanban, tasks are written out with full details, and developers pick them up based on what’s most important at the time. But it’s not just about picking tasks randomly—Kanban follows Work-In-Progress (WIP) limits to prevent bottlenecks and ensure a smooth workflow. This way, work keeps flowing, and teams stay flexible without overloading developers.
- So, Which One Do Companies Actually Use?
Honestly? Both. Big companies like Salesforce and Microsoft don’t just follow one method. They mix and modify existing frameworks to create their own hybrid SDLC methodologies that fit their work culture and business goals.
From my chats with developers, one thing stood out: A good and friendly work culture matters more than which methodology you use. If your team works well together, you’ll figure out the best way to develop high-quality products, no matter what SDLC you follow.
