What is a feature-driven development (FDD) in Agile Development?

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 tangible features or functionalities in a timely manner.

In FDD, the development process is driven by a set of client-valued features. These features are identified and prioritized based on the needs and requirements of the stakeholders. The development team then breaks down these features into smaller, manageable tasks or user stories.

The FDD process consists of five key activities:

1. Develop an overall model: The development team creates an overall model of the system, which serves as a blueprint for the development process. This model includes the major features and their relationships.

2. Build a feature list: The team identifies and prioritizes the features based on the client's requirements. Each feature is described in detail, including its scope, priority, and estimated effort.

3. Plan by feature: The team plans the development process by breaking down the features into smaller, time-boxed iterations called "feature sets." Each feature set represents a set of features that can be developed within a specific timeframe.

4. Design by feature: The team designs and develops each feature set iteratively. This involves creating detailed design specifications, coding, and testing. The focus is on delivering working features at the end of each iteration.

5. Build by feature: The team builds and integrates the developed features into the overall system. This includes testing, bug fixing, and ensuring the features work seamlessly together.

FDD emphasizes collaboration, frequent communication, and continuous feedback between the development team and the stakeholders. It promotes a disciplined and structured approach to software development, ensuring that features are delivered on time and meet the client's expectations.

Overall, FDD provides a systematic and efficient way to develop software by focusing on delivering valuable features in a timely manner, while maintaining high quality and client satisfaction.