Mar 28th, 2025
Agile, Waterfall, or Something Else? Picking the Right Software Development Methodology
Choosing the right software development methodology is crucial. From the structured nature of Waterfall to the adaptability of Agile, each methodology comes with its own strengths and challenges. With so many options available, how can you determine the best approach for your specific project needs?
In this article, we’ll navigate this challenge with practical advice to help you make the right decision. Whether you’re building an MVP for a personal project, or developing a full-blown enterprise software suite, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each methodology will empower you to select the right approach.
What Is a Software Development Methodology?
A software development methodology is a structured framework for approaching development. It is not the same as a list of software requirements. Requirements tell you what to build. A methodology tells you how to build it. It outlines a roadmap for you to follow from the start of the project to the end.
The methodology you choose will impact decisions affecting budget, timeline, communication and the project’s overall quality.
Top 7 Software Development Methodologies
There are many different ways to approach development—not all of them are documented. At the end of the day, a methodology is flexible and changeable, and some are not formalized. There are 5 methodologies that are very common in this industry, so we’ll outline those below.
1. Waterfall
The Waterfall methodology is a linear, sequential approach where each phase must be completed before moving to the next. It’s gotten a bad rap in recent years, as many smaller teams (and even some larger institutions) find that rapid iteration and greater flexibility are crucial to smooth development. It’s best suited for projects with well-defined requirements.
2. Agile
Agile is a flexible, iterative methodology that emphasizes collaboration, customer feedback, and continuous improvement through frequent releases. While agile software development is popular among startups and smaller teams, managing it in larger organizations or projects with unclear requirements can be challenging.
3. Scrum
Scrum is not really a methodology in itself—rather, it is a framework for implementing Agile philosophies. It aims to break down the dev process into short, manageable chunks called Sprints, and it delegates tasks to team members who take on roles such as Scrum Master and Product Owner.
4. Lean
Lean comes from the manufacturing world and is focused on eliminating waste and optimizing resources. In manufacturing, these are literal physical resources: in software, the resources are time, data storage, performance, etc.
5. Feature-Driven Development (FDD)
Rather than a full methodology on its own, FDD is a tenet of Agile philosophy. It relies on user feedback and incremental release of small features to meet user needs. It is focused on short sprints and building only what is required by users.
6. Rapid Application Development (RAD)
Rapid Application Development (RAD) focuses on rapidly building functional prototypes to gather user feedback early and continuously. Like Agile, it emphasizes user involvement, but it prioritizes flexibility over extensive upfront planning.
7. Rational Unified Process
Rational Unified Process combines elements from several methodologies, making it a very popular approach in 2025. It divides the software development life cycle (SDLC) into four phases: inception, elaboration, construction, and transition. At each phase business modeling, analysis, design, implementation, testing, and deployment are cycled. This results in a highly complex but very modular development process.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Software Development Methodology
Before you decide on a software methodology for your next project, consider your needs, and the limitations, and scope of your requirements and team.
- Clarity and complexity of requirements. Projects with very clear and simple requirements do very well under the Waterfall methodology. For software projects with less solid specs, consider Agile.
- Team size and expertise. Very large teams may do well to try implementing Lean strategies. Smaller teams may find agile software development gives them more leeway to operate independently.
- Time constraints.Projects on a tight deadline may find that Scrum or Agile principles allow them to rapidly deliver features as they are ready. For projects with very rigid long-term deadlines, try Waterfall.
- Budget. If resource allocation is tight, Lean may be the methodology for your team. Organizations with money to burn can afford to try a more rigid approach like Waterfall.
Conclusion
Choosing the right software development methodology for your project will depend on a variety of factors, including project requirements, team size, deadlines, and budget. Always remember that no methodology is “one-size-fits-all,” so it’s essential to weigh these factors carefully to determine the best approach.
Consider scheduling a meeting with our experts today to guide you in the decision-making process.
