Differences between Agile and Waterfall Methodologies

Agile Vs Waterfall Methodologies

I think every method of project management of software development has its own pros and cons. Agile has its own benefits over waterfall methodology and vice versa.

Let's understand the basics of both of them and the differences between them. There is a general practice of using Agile Methodology more over Waterfall in the current work culture as it provides us more flexibility and adaptability of the product.

The steps are shown for each methodology below.

What is Agile Methodology?

Agile methodology has its own seven principles to follow.


1) Adaptability - Flexibility to change the requirement.
2) Customer Involvement - The customer is constantly involved in the development process.
3) Lean Development - Try to achieve the goal with lesser steps.
4) Teamwork - The team will constantly assess the process and progress.
5) Time - Work based on the time-boxed sprints.
6) Sustainability - Sustainable pace of achieving the goal.
7) Testing - Testing through every phase of the development.

What is Waterfall Methodology?

Steps of Waterfall Method.


1) Conception
2) Initiation and Analysis
3) Design
4) Construction
5) Testing
6) Implementation

Differences -

• Agile is an incremental and iterative approach; Waterfall is a linear and sequential approach.

• Testing is performed concurrently with development in Agile; the testing phase comes only after the build phase in a Waterfall project.

• Agile helps complete many small projects; Waterfall helps complete one single project.

• Agile introduces a product mindset with a focus on customer satisfaction; Waterfall focuses on successful project delivery.

• Agile allows requirement changes at any time; Waterfall avoids scope changes once the project starts.

• Agile separates a project into sprints; Waterfall divides a project into phases.

• Requirements are prepared every day in Agile, while requirements are prepared once at the start in Waterfall.