Iterative Development Process

• Iterative Development Process involves cyclically developing and refining a system through repeated cycles of analysis, design, implementation, and testing.

• In a programming project, this process allows for constant evaluation and course correction, making it more flexible to changes and new requirements.

• The initial stage involves designing a simple implementation of the system to lay out the basic structure and functionality, known as the ‘Base Iteration’.

• Following the Base Iteration is the development cycle that includes the stages: Identify, Plan, Implement, and Review.

• In the Identify stage, problem areas in the current iteration and additional requirements are identified for the next iteration.

• During the Plan stage, proposed changes are discussed, prioritised, and specific tasks are assigned to programming team members.

• The Implement stage is where developers code according to the plan, introducing new features and fixing bugs.

• The Review stage involves carefully examining the changes made, confirming they work as intended and that the solution meets its objectives. Feedback and reflexion from this stage forms the basis of next iteration.

• This cyclic process is repeated, incrementally improving the system, until all requirements have been adequately met and the system is judged to be complete.

• The Iterative Development Process not only allows for error detection and correction at an early stage, but also introduces adaptability, ensuring the final product better aligns with the end user’s needs.

• Understanding and effectively utilising this process is key in any programming project development. It’s also vital to keep an audit trail of the changes made and lessons learned in each iteration for future reference and ongoing improvement.