10 Key Software Development Methodologies to Try in 2024

Developing well-designed, high-quality software involves countless steps that are planned and executed extremely well. The entire software development process banks on robust software development methodologies that efficiently orchestrate the work of teams to meet the planned objectives.

Software development companies use different types of software development methodologies based on their preferred approach. That said, there isn’t a cookie-cutter approach—these development methods must be tweaked to make them your own.

In this article, you will find valuable insights on some popular software development methodologies. You will also learn how to select the best ones for your software projects.

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Understanding Software Development Methodologies

So, what are software development methodologies anyway?

A software development methodology is a well-structured process for developing software. It comprises various design philosophies and real-world practices derived from traditional, modern, and advanced software development concepts.

The quality of a software build depends on the processes that go into creating it—the various software development methodologies. Selecting the right methods helps you improve collaboration, manage changes during the build, deliver the software on time and within budget, and make informed decisions during the build.

What makes the software development life cycle important?

The software development life cycle (SDLC) is a process developers use to build quality software. It provides software engineering teams with a framework for software development, with specific deliverables at each stage. This helps the developing team save on time and resources. Several other reasons make the software development life cycle an important part of the build:

• It helps ensure that the software development follows a systematic approach
• Through repeated testing, validation, and improvement, it enhances the quality of the end product
• It ensures you identify and mitigate risks early in the development phases and avoid wasting resources
• It facilitates stakeholder communication and collaboration among the team members
• It helps keep the project costs under control by preventing scope creep and through efficient resource management

Brief overview of the software development process

The software development process is an iterative process using which the development team aims to create software that meets the needs of the business or the end users. The steps in the process are divided into two categories: frontend and backend.

The process involves multiple steps, such as:

• Ideation and research
• Coding
• Design
• Writing the technical documentation
• Debugging
• Iterations

Developers need a well-structured and disciplined software management process to design a high-quality product that solves a real-world problem. It helps them meet business needs and expectations without causing unmanageable budget overruns.

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Different Software Development Methodologies

There are ten key software development methodologies, each with unique benefits and utility. Let’s review the salient features and importance of each one.

1. Waterfall Development Methodology

The waterfall software development methodology is considered to be a rigid process executed linearly. This is the traditional software development method, where steps are aligned sequentially to be executed one after another. The next step is taken up only when the previous one is 100% complete and its goal is achieved.

Pros

• This software development methodology is one of the easiest to manage because of its simple structure and step-by-step progress
• It is also suitable for use by project managers and teams who don’t have much experience in development
• It benefits teams whose members change frequently because it is easy to understand and follow

Cons

• This software development approach is slow and costly because of its inflexible structure and stringent controls
• There is often no way to retrace the steps in the waterfall methodology if a mistake has occurred during the development

2. Agile Software Development

The agile development methodology is an extremely flexible software development method that prioritizes end-user requirements over rigid structure or documentation. The method breaks the software development project into shorter components (called ‘sprints’) that take one to four weeks to complete.

This development model is iterative, helping teams build on the improvements by incorporating user feedback.

The agile software development methodology keeps the project running smoothly, on time, and within budget. It lets developers make changes to a build quickly, helping mitigate the potential risks or errors before launching.

The method is flexible, which makes it more easily workable for the development teams. Additionally, it helps deliver high-quality products that are customer-oriented and can enhance customer satisfaction with the brand.

Pros

• The agile method is adaptable to changing development needs and complex projects
• It delivers prompt feedback to the developers for product improvement
• This method reduces the amount of defective products released

Cons

• There is very little documentation during the development process because of the changing scope
• The software development team may have to deal with scope creep if client demands increase with each iteration

3. DevOps Development Methodology

DevOps, a combination of Development and Operations, is a software development methodology encompassing both development and operations teams. Some of the key roles that DevOps plays in a software build are:

• Automation: It allows for faster builds and delivery of more efficient and accurate software
• Continuous deployment: It involves running the development process in an infinite loop to optimize delivery speed
• Collaboration: It is the central pillar of DevOps that creates transparent processes for all stakeholders in the development process

Pros

• DevOps software has faster times to market
• There is reduced risk because of short, iterative development cycles that keep the product relevant
• There is enhanced collaboration between the team members

Cons

• This methodology lacks meaningful development metrics, which may create gaps in process visibility
• It is costly and more complex than other software development methodologies

Also read: DevOps vs. Agile explained

4. Scrum (Software Development)

Scrum is a management framework that empowers various teams involved in software development to self-organize and orient their work toward a common goal. This method comprises three key stakeholders:

• Product owner: Takes input from the client or internal stakeholders and keeps the build on track
• Scrum master: Manages the team and keeps them supplied with resources and guidance
• Development team: The professionals who execute the project

Scrum is executed in sprints that last up to four weeks and involves identifying issues, trying solutions, testing the build, and gathering feedback.

Pros

• Scrum is highly responsive to emerging changes
• The team stays aligned with goals because of regular scrum meetings
• Individual contributions of team members are noticed and acknowledged

Cons

• It requires highly skilled team members
• Daily meetings and a scrum pace may lead to quicker burnout

Also read: A day in the life of a software developer

Download This Template

Orchestrate your development process better with ClickUp Scrum Management Template. It facilitates flexible tracking of the agile tasks and provides actionable visuals that help with sprint optimization. Collaborative tools help keep the team members well-informed about the sprint progress.

5. Feature-Driven Development

Better known as FDD, feature-driven development is an Agile-based methodology that prevents confusion while developing software. It involves breaking up the development tasks and activities into a list of features.

Developers then plan, design, and build for each feature, which takes about two to ten days per feature.

Pros

• This method breaks down a complicated build into a set of manageable stages
• Larger teams can coordinate better on multiple tasks, enhancing productivity
• Outcomes are predictable because this method relies on predefined standards and practices

Cons

• It is not suitable for small-scale builds
• Task coordination can be tricky and depends a lot on the lead developer
• The focus may shift to executing activities rather than on enhancing user value

6. Prototype Development Methodology

The prototyping methodology involves directly developing a finished product prototype instead of taking on a full-scale build. The prototype is shared with the client for testing and tweaking, helping to clarify their requirements through feedback.

The prototype is then put through several sets of iterations based on each round of customer feedback, leading to a highly targeted product.

Pros

• This method helps address potentially big issues early in the development process
• Real development work doesn’t start before a customer is completely satisfied with the prototype
• High engagement with clients builds brand rapport with them
• Let teams gather key project information, which is used to build the final version

Cons

• This method can cause delays because of iterations in prototyping
• The prototype may be completely off the client’s expectations

7. Rational Unified Process

The RUP is a development methodology that adapts to the complexities of the ongoing project. While agile methods are more improvised and less documented, the RUP is highly structured and orderly. It has four distinct phases:

• Inception: The team discusses the basic idea and structure of the project, including the required resources 
• Elaboration: The team evaluates the feasibility of the idea in terms of cost, resources, and full development timeline
• Construction: The team creates the software, collaborates with stakeholders for improvement, and tests it
• Transition: The software is released to the users. The team then makes systems adjustments for optimal function, identifies issues, and fixes them

Pros

• The iterative approach helps mitigate risks through early identification and well-defined phases
• It leads to higher-quality builds because of a robust process architecture
• The method carries clear milestones that make the process more predictable
• It is easier to manage budgets and timelines with this method
• Thorough tracking is possible through detailed process documentation and reviews throughout the development process

Cons

• This method is heavy on resources and can get costly. It is not feasible for small-scale businesses
• It may not be justified to create detailed documentation of this process for smaller projects
• This method does not accommodate changes well

8. Lean Software Development Methodology

Lean manufacturing principles were originally laid out by the world-renowned automotive company Toyota, and now they have also been adopted into software. The lean development methodology emphasizes reducing wastage while increasing productivity. Its guiding principles prevent non-productive activities and help the team deliver high-quality products.

Pros

• This method helps eliminate waste, such as data duplication, delayed communication, etc., from the process
• The outputs are of relatively higher quality
• It encourages team effort and acknowledges the contribution of the team members

Cons

• This approach is team-dependent, which may introduce inconsistencies
• It has restricted scalability
• There is a lack of documentation

9. Extreme Programming

Extreme programming is part of agile development methodologies. It is built on a set of values, principles, and practices that empower small and mid-sized teams to make high-quality products adaptively.

The values in extreme programming methods work as the North Star for the team members, motivating them to deliver good products.

Pros

• This methodology helps the team maintain close contact with the client
• It prevents unnecessary programming work
• It helps avoid errors by using the pair programming method
• Continuous testing in the method leads to a stable build
• This method can accommodate changes at short notice
• The code that is written is clear and understandable

Cons

• This method creates additional work for the team
• The customer must participate in the process
• The time investment is high
• It requires a good amount of self-discipline on the part of the team
• There may be a high demand for version management

10. Rapid Application Development

The Rapid Application Development methodology focuses on delivering high-quality builds with accelerated timelines without introducing any compromise. It is a four-step framework comprising of:

• Project requirements: The team members ask the client for a broad requirement for the build
• Prototyping: Developers create prototypes with diverse features and functions to show the client. The client then decides what they want to keep and remove
• Construction: This is the build phase where developers create a system out of a working model
• Deployment: The build is then transported into a production environment where developers test it, document it, scale it, and customize it

This is not a linear model; it involves rapidly building prototypes and testing them with customers before going into the second iteration. The iterations continue until the client is satisfied with the final product.

Pros

• Constant feedback from clients helps reduce the risks inherent in the project
• Customer satisfaction is high because of continuous improvement and engagement
• The method is well-suited to small and medium-sized projects
• Rapid application development reduces the time to market

Cons

• This method requires the client to be responsive and involved, which may not always be possible
• It isn’t ideal for projects that have budget constraints
• Progress tracking may be difficult due to lack of documentation

Read more about rapid application development for software developers

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Designing Efficient Software Development Processes with ClickUp

Developing a high-quality, purpose-led product depends on the adopted methodologies and the tools leveraged. Developers can simplify their entire development lifecycle using ClickUp’s software development tools that span the entire process.

ClickUp for Software Teams helps developers plan, prioritize, and build software using efficiency-driving features and tools. 

The integrated AI assistant ClickUp Brain helps you fast-track ideation and documentation by generating product roadmaps, PRDs, and more. It also saves you time by automating standups and progress updates, helping you write error-free copy for release notes to internal emails, and quickly pulling task information from anywhere within ClickUp.

You can also use ClickUp Automations to automate repetitive tasks, such as assigning tasks, updating status, sending trigger-based emails, responding to a Git notification, etc. 

Improve teamwork and project tracking through customizable ClickUp Dashboards with real-time data to keep everybody on the same page.

You can also use ClickUp’s various software development templates to cut out many of the manual steps and close your projects on time.

ClickUp’s approach to agile development

ClickUp’s agile workflows empower developers to sprint through epics and move faster, irrespective of their chosen methodology for software development. Using ClickUp’s sprint planning templates, developers can easily design the ideal process for any backlog. 

 ClickUp Sprints provides a customizable workspace that helps you better organize your Agile sprints. Set Sprint dates and priorities, add Sprint points, sync development with your work in Git, and automatically move unfinished work to the next Sprint. 

Release a reliable build using a fully integrated Git pipeline with customizable release trains. You can also facilitate precise collaboration with dependency tracking, reporting through burnup and burndown charts, and streamlined bug tracking and reporting. 

Download This Template

ClickUp’s Bug Report Template helps teams collect and resolve bugs faster with a structured process that improves collaboration between developers and testers. The customizable template includes: 

• Bug report forms to collect information in detail
• A comprehensive list of statuses to track task progress
• Visualizations to help prioritize issue resolution

You can also set up notifications for specific owners/watchers to be updated on progress

Scrum and Kanban in ClickUp

Download This Template

ClickUp’s Scrum Management Template provides a bird’s-eye view of various project aspects, such as pending tasks, in-progress activities, tasks in review, to-do lists, etc. Developers can use the scrum sprint planning view to set sprint details such as total duration, schedule, check backlog, etc.

Developers can also leverage ClickUp’s Kanban Boards to visualize their project progress more comprehensively, viewing all active projects in a single layout.

Developers and teams can tremendously benefit from ClickUp’s Software Development Template, which is loaded with advanced features, fully customizable, and ready to use.

Download This Template

The template covers the entire process, from creating the product roadmap to building product features and fixing bugs. It helps Product, Design, Engineering and other teams work collaboratively together in a shared Space. It includes a wide range of Custom Status fields so you can make it truly your own. You can also add Custom Fields to adapt to specific uses such as the MoSCoW framework, organizational goals it relates to, and so on. 

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Making the Right Choice: Deciding on a Software Development Methodology

While there is no straightforward rule for selecting a software development methodology, you can leverage the guidelines below to get an idea of which method would help you deliver the highest quality products, given the situation and availability of resources.

• Understand the stakeholders and their involvement in the project thoroughly
• Draw a budget for the project, set a contingency fund, and specify the upper cap
• Consider the project information at hand, the availability of your client, the skillset available, and the flexibility required
• Determine the timeframe you can dedicate to the project
• Specify a team size, the scale of the project, and the level of complexity associated with it
• Once you compile this information, you can select a methodology that resonates with all or most of your requirements and helps you deliver efficiently

In the table below, you will find a handy guide to help you select the right software development methodology for your project:

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Power Through Software Development with High Efficiencies

Delivering a high-quality software project requires selecting the right software development methodologies. While some software development approaches cater to small projects with fewer complexities, others are designed for projects with high levels of engagement and complexity.

Understanding each method’s benefits, drawbacks, and implications is key to choosing the right software methodology to optimize your processes. Leverage the information in this blog to make the right choice among different software development methodologies.

Whichever methodology you pick, ClickUp is the all-in-one software project management tool that can help you manage it efficiently. Better yet, ClickUp is free—sign up today!