10 Reasons Why Agile is Best for App Development & How We Use It
Agile development is a methodology, not a tool. It’s an iterative approach that builds software incrementally, instead of delivering the complete product near the end of the timeline. This process is streamlined and flexible, allowing you to make changes on an as needed basis.
At a high-level overview, agile works by planning, designing, building, testing and reviewing ーthen repeating that process until your app is ready to be launched.
We recommend reading the Agile Manifesto to learn the main principles behind the methodology.
Why Should I Use Agile?
Agile has become the go-to framework for helping app startups and development agencies maintain a focus on delivering a quality app ー quickly and efficiently. Agile maximizes value throughout the development process and significantly reduces the overall risk of any given project.
Not working agile yet? Here are ten reasons why you should be!
1. Quality Product
It was common to test software before launch, but with Agile, testing is integrated throughout every stage of development to ensure a quality end product. Continuous testing allows room for adjustments and can catch issues and bugs before they manifest.
2. Faster Time to Market
Sprints play a major role when working Agile. These set periods of time allow teams to deliver frequently and rapidly. Speed is key for startups.
3. Flexibility
Flexibility is praised as one of the most beneficial reasons to use Agile. Because the methodology allows for change, there is always room for mistakes and opportunity to iterate.
4. Cost Effective
Becoming more Agile is proven to save money, and most importantly, it helps you invest funds wisely.
5. People Focused/Collaborative
Agile puts a strong focus on people and collaboration, Which provides the development team with many opportunities to work with the client and understand their vision.
6. Reduced Risk
Working on small tasks that build up to the big picture will help you identify issues early. Reducing risk and making it easier to respond to any changes.
7. Enjoyable Work Environment
Instead of team members and clients working in complete isolation for hours, everyone will be working together to deliver a quality end product. Workshops, brainstorming sessions, and meaningful conversations are all part of the development process.
8. User Feedback
In most cases, Agile utilizes user stories to determine product features. When you create user stories, you’ll focus on solving the real needs users have, instead of developing features that could turn out useless.
9. Quick Decision Making
Working under set deadlines and timeframes will force you to be on your toes at all times. This applies to decision making as well, because you won’t b to sit down with your team to agree on every decision.
10. Results Driven
Instead of focusing on the process itself, you and your team will be driven to achieve milestones and results.
How We Use It
At App Partner, we follow two main Agile principles:
- Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project.
- The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation.
These principles closely align with our values. We believe that client collaboration is better than contract negotiation. Why? Because working together with the client, focusing on combined energies instead of wasting time arguing feature sets, is beneficial for both parties in the long run.
We also believe that face to face communication is more important than documentation.
Before app development became more streamlined, clients would write pages of detailed documentation that they wanted developers to follow.
The problem was that it took a lot of time to write formal documentation, and in the end, it would end up untouched by the developer. We don’t require complex or lengthy documentation as other agencies might. Instead, we move fast and communicate closely with the client, whether it’s in person, or a Skype/phone call.
Conclusion
Agile works wonders for app development if you implement it correctly. Especially for smaller tasks, such as building out a certain feature. The key point to keep in mind is that you need to define your end goal.
At the end of the day, you need to make Agile work for your business needs. It’s difficult to be completely Agile, however, if you can incorporate the appropriate principles in your own processes ーdevelopment will be faster and more efficient.
