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INTRODUCTION TO SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATING SYSTEMS

4. Software Development Methodologies

Software Development Methodologies

a. Agile:

  • Focuses on delivering small, incremental releases and adapting to changing requirements.
  • Core values: Individuals and interactions, working software, customer collaboration, and responding to change.

b. Scrum:

  • A subset of Agile that uses fixed-length iterations (sprints) to deliver working software.
  • Roles: Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team.
  • Artifacts: Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Increment.

c. Kanban:

  • A visual workflow management method that focuses on continuous delivery.
  • Uses a Kanban board to track tasks (To Do, In Progress, Done).

d. Extreme Programming (XP):

  • Emphasizes customer satisfaction, teamwork, and technical excellence.
  • Practices: Pair programming, test-driven development (TDD), and continuous integration.

Best Practices in Software Development

a. Code Reviews:

  • Regularly review code to ensure quality, identify bugs, and share knowledge among team members.

b. Documentation:

  • Maintain clear and up-to-date documentation for code, design, and processes.
  • Helps new developers understand the system and facilitates maintenance.

c. Continuous Integration (CI):

  • Automate the process of integrating code changes into a shared repository.
  • Ensures that new code does not break existing functionality.

d. Continuous Delivery (CD):

  • Automate the deployment process to deliver software updates quickly and reliably.

e. Test-Driven Development (TDD):

  • Write tests before writing the actual code.
  • Ensures that the code meets the requirements and reduces the likelihood of bugs.

f. Refactoring:

  • Improve the structure and design of existing code without changing its external behavior.
  • Keeps the codebase clean and maintainable.