Understanding different software development methodologies 

In general, you can separate software development methodologies into two camps: sequential and evolutionary.

Sequential methodologies include Waterfall and V-model and are defined by a linear progression through each phase with a final end result. 

Evolutionary methodologies, including incremental, Agile, iterative and spiral, are defined by repeated development cycles that produces progressive versions of software. 

To help understand these models and some of their strengths and weaknesses you are going to explore a mind map of software development methodologies. As you do this, see if you can answer these questions: 

• What situations are linear approaches suited to and what are the general strengths and weakness of linear methodologies? 
• What situations are evolutionary approaches suited to and what are the general strengths and weakness of evolutionary methodologies? 
• How do the various evolutionary models differ? What are their strengths and weaknesses? 
• What is the difference between the two linear models? What are their strengths and weaknesses?

 When you’re ready, return to the Learning Path menu and select the resource: Software Development Methodologies 2: Mind Map.