What is Iterative Development?

Iterative development is an approach to software development where the software is developed in small, incremental stages or iterations, with each iteration building on the previous one. In this approach, requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration between self-organizing and cross-functional teams.

In iterative development, the development process is divided into a series of small iterations, each of which results in a working version of the software that is tested and evaluated. Based on the feedback received, changes are made to the software and the process is repeated in subsequent iterations. This allows for continuous improvement and refinement of the software, resulting in a final product that is better aligned with the needs of the end-users.

Iterative development is often contrasted with the traditional Waterfall model of software development, which involves a linear, sequential process where each phase of development is completed before the next one begins. In contrast, iterative development is more flexible and adaptable, allowing for changes to be made at any stage of the development process. This approach is particularly useful for complex projects where the requirements are not well understood or are likely to change over time.