The incremental development model is a prescriptive model which delivers the working component at each increment of the project. Incremental model is implemented when the client needs an immediate release of the project.
In this section, we will discuss the characteristics of the incremental model in brief, along with its phases. We will also consider the scenario when the incremental model can be used. Further, we will discuss the types, advantages and disadvantages of an incremental model.
Content: Incremental Development Model
- What is Incremental Model?
- Phases of Incremental Model
- When to Use Incremental Model?
- Types of Incremental Model
- Advantages & Disadvantages
- Key Takeaways
What is Incremental Development Model?
Incremental model is a process model used by developers to develop software. The incremental model produces a working product (in parts) at each increment. Receiving early delivery of the operational product (in parts) boosts the morale of customer that his requirements are being satisfied. And soon the complete working system will be delivered to him.
The incremental model suggests that the delivered early increments should possess the functionality of customer’s interest and let the rest of the software to be delivered in a period. Let us understand the incremental model with the help of a scenario.
Consider, we have to deliver a word processor to the customer and customers want the delivery of his product by a date that seems to be impossible. So, in the first release, the delivered increment possess file management, document production, editing like functionalities.
In the next release or increment, the delivered functionality would include sophisticated editing tools, advanced file creation capabilities. The further increment would produce features like spell check, grammar checking, mailing, and so on.
So in this way, the incremental model delivers the project in parts. The initial increment is the stripped-down version of the complete system. This stripped-down version helps the customer to evaluate the released increment and suggest modifications which can be implemented in later increments.
The final product has more chances of being accurate and reassures all the requirements of the customer. The incremental model incorporates both linear and parallel process flow as you can observe in the image above.
Phases of Incremental Model
Any iteration of the increment model can use prototyping model for the process flow. Well, the general phases that all the increments have to process are as follow:
1. Requirement Analysis
During this phase, the developers communicate with the customer and note down all the requirements of the customer.
2. Modelling
Analyzing the requirements specified by the customer outline of the product is designed using UML diagrams which helps in the implementation of the product.
3. Implementation
Programs are coded in small units to implement the operational product. These small units are integrated to achieve the operation product.
4. Deployment
The operational product is demonstrated to the customer and feedback is taken to develop next increment.
When to Use Incremental Development Model?
The incremental model should be used when the deadline fixed for the completion of the project seems to be impossible. There can be many reasons for this scenario like it may be the case that there is a lack of staff for completing the project. So, the company can plan early increments with fewer team member