Week 2 - Software Development Methodologies Flashcards
What is a software development methodology?
A structured approach used to plan, design, develop, test, and deploy software.
What are the three main topics covered in this module?
Software Development Methodologies
Version Control Systems
Continuous Integration and Deployment (CI/CD)
What was the dominant software development approach before Agile?
A plan-driven approach that focused on careful planning, documentation, and formalized quality assurance.
What were the main issues with the traditional plan-driven approach?
Too much overhead in planning and documentation.
Slow adaptation to changing requirements.
More time spent on planning than actual development.
Inefficiency for small & medium-sized projects.
What led to the creation of Agile methodologies?
Dissatisfaction with heavyweight plan-driven methods, which slowed down software delivery and made adaptation difficult.
Agile was created to focus more on working software rather than excessive documentation.
What is the Agile methodology?
A software development approach that emphasizes incremental development, rapid delivery, customer collaboration, and adaptability to changing requirements.
What are the key features of Agile methods?
Incremental approach – Develop software in small iterations.
Frequent customer feedback – Ensures the system meets user needs.
Quick software delivery – Faster time-to-market.
Minimal bureaucracy – Reduces unnecessary documentation.
When is Agile best suited?
Projects with frequently changing requirements.
Application development where user needs evolve.
Startups and fast-moving industries.
What is Scrum?
A popular Agile framework focused on iterative development and team empowerment. It manages work through structured cycles called sprints.
What are the three phases of the Scrum process?
Planning Phase – Define project objectives and design architecture.
Sprint Cycles – Develop system increments in short, iterative cycles.
Project Closure – Finalize documentation and review lessons learned.
What is a Scrum Sprint?
A time-boxed iteration (typically 2–4 weeks) where the team works on a prioritized set of features.
What is the role of the Scrum Master?
Facilitates daily meetings.
Tracks backlog progress.
Records decisions and progress.
Communicates with customers and stakeholders.
How is Scrum different from traditional project management?
Scrum teams are self-organizing.
There is no project manager; instead, there is a Scrum Master.
Emphasizes working software over extensive documentation.
What are the key Agile methodologies?
Scrum – Iterative sprints and team-driven development.
Extreme Programming (XP) – Focuses on quality and rapid iterations.
Kanban – Continuous delivery with visual task boards.
Lean Development – Eliminates waste and increases efficiency.
Feature-Driven Development (FDD) – Model-driven, customer-centric approach.
Why is Agile better suited for modern software development?
Allows for quick adaptation to market changes.
Enables faster feedback loops.
Encourages team collaboration and communication.
Supports frequent releases and continuous improvement.
What is Continuous Integration (CI)?
A practice where developers frequently merge code changes into a shared repository, allowing automated testing and immediate feedback.
What is Continuous Deployment (CD)?
An extension of CI where every validated code change is automatically deployed to production.
Why is CI/CD important?
Reduces manual errors.
Enables faster releases.
Improves code quality through automation.
Ensures continuous updates and bug fixes.
What is Version Control?
A system that tracks changes to code, allowing developers to revert, merge, and collaborate efficiently.
What are the two main types of Version Control Systems (VCS)?
Centralized VCS (CVCS) – A single server stores all versions (e.g., SVN).
Distributed VCS (DVCS) – Each developer has a local copy of the repository (e.g., Git).
What are the key principles of Agile software development?
Individuals and interactions over processes and tools.
Working software over comprehensive documentation.
Customer collaboration over contract negotiation.
Responding to change over following a plan.
What are the advantages of using Git for version control?
Tracks changes efficiently.
Supports team collaboration.
Allows branching and merging.
Works offline.
When is Agile not recommended?
Highly regulated environments requiring strict documentation.
Projects with fixed, stable requirements.
Safety-critical systems (e.g., aerospace, medical devices).
What are some challenges of Agile development?
Difficult to estimate time and cost.
Requires highly skilled teams.
Not ideal for large, distributed teams.
Frequent requirement changes can cause instability.
Why do businesses prioritize rapid deployment over detailed functionality?
Faster market entry provides competitive advantage.
Allows real-time customer feedback and iteration.
Users prefer functional software over waiting for perfect software.
How does Agile promote productivity?
Teams work in short, focused cycles (Sprints).
Developers collaborate and get quick feedback.
Eliminates wasteful documentation.
