Waterfall development is software development model. With this model, there is a designated progression of actions that are taken throughout the time that software is being developed up until the time that the software is released.
This system is one that has been in existence for several years. For the most part, it is made up of six distinct phases:
1. Requirements analysis
2. Design
3. Implementation
4. Testing
5. Installation
6. Maintenance
One thing about waterfall development is that it is a fairly controversial process. Many developers will agree that there are many aspects of this system that simply do not work well. In fact, below you will find 10 things that everyone hates …show more content…
Since the requirements are to be laid out beforehand, this can be an incredibly inaccurate process.
3. Projects become Difficult
After the design phase, many enter into the project only to find that implementing it is nearly impossible. While the designs may look feasible on paper, they turn out to be extremely expensive. This could cause a re-design to be necessary.
4. Division of Work
The waterfall development process also designates certain work to be completed by certain types of workers. For example, there is a clear distinction between designers, programmers and testers. However, dividing this type of work in the real world is not realistic.
5. It Wastes Time and Resources
Throughout each phase of the waterfall process, only a select number of team members are qualified to complete work. This means that others will simply be sitting idle while waiting for their phase to begin. Naturally, this is a great waste of resources and can actually make the project take longer.
6. It 's …show more content…
Updates are Difficult
After the software has been completely designed using the waterfall process, many developers find that it is more difficult to update in the future. While updates are possible, they are difficult when this method has been chosen.
9. Doesn 't work for Difficult Projects
The idea behind the waterfall development system is that it is intended for a simple project. Unfortunately, there are very few projects these days that are simple. Instead, most require a great deal of attention and focus in order to complete. Using the waterfall method for these types of projects can cause them to be more expensive and take more time.
10. Can 't look back
Finally, once a phase is completed, it is closed. This means that it will be nearly impossible to make changes to a completed phase. This is why gathering requirements upfront is so important. Making changes to a closed and locked phase is a nightmare.
Choosing the right software development strategy is important for any business. For this reason, it is crucial to learn more about the pros and cons of the development options that are available. Contact us today to learn more about the options that are available for your