Agile Development Questions Long
Feature-driven development (FDD) is a software development methodology that falls under the umbrella of Agile Development. It is a highly iterative and incremental approach that focuses on delivering features in a timely manner. FDD places a strong emphasis on collaboration, communication, and delivering tangible results.
The concept of FDD revolves around breaking down the development process into small, manageable chunks called features. Each feature represents a specific piece of functionality that adds value to the end product. These features are prioritized based on their importance and are developed and delivered in short iterations called feature sets.
The FDD process begins with the creation of an overall model of the system, known as the domain object model (DOM). The DOM serves as a visual representation of the system's key business processes and entities. It helps the development team gain a shared understanding of the system and its requirements.
Once the DOM is created, the team identifies and prioritizes the features to be developed. This is done through a collaborative process involving stakeholders, domain experts, and developers. The features are then grouped into feature sets, which are time-boxed iterations typically lasting a few weeks.
During each feature set, the team follows a set of predefined steps to develop and deliver the features. These steps include:
1. Develop an overall model: The team refines the DOM and identifies any new features that need to be added.
2. Build a feature list: The team creates a prioritized list of features to be developed in the current feature set.
3. Plan by feature: The team breaks down each feature into a set of tasks and estimates the effort required for each task.
4. Design by feature: The team designs the solution for each feature, focusing on simplicity, clarity, and reusability.
5. Build by feature: The team develops the code for each feature, following coding standards and best practices.
6. Test by feature: The team conducts thorough testing for each feature, including unit testing, integration testing, and acceptance testing.
7. Integrate and build: The team integrates the developed features into the main codebase and builds a working version of the system.
8. Review progress: The team reviews the progress made in the current feature set, identifies any issues or risks, and adjusts the plan if necessary.
9. Release: Once all the features in the current feature set are completed and tested, the team releases the working version of the system to the stakeholders.
Throughout the FDD process, there is a strong emphasis on collaboration and communication. Regular meetings, such as daily stand-ups and feature walkthroughs, are conducted to ensure everyone is on the same page and any issues or roadblocks are addressed promptly.
FDD also promotes a high level of transparency and visibility. Progress is tracked using visual tools, such as burn-down charts, to provide a clear picture of the project's status. This allows stakeholders to have a real-time view of the development progress and make informed decisions.
In summary, feature-driven development is an Agile methodology that focuses on delivering features in short iterations. It promotes collaboration, communication, and transparency, enabling the development team to deliver high-quality software that meets the stakeholders' requirements.