Advantages and Disadvantages of Waterfall Model

After defining the different types of SDLC models let us now talk about the advantages and disadvantages of them so that we will have a clearer view on what is the best model to use while on a custom software development project. Let us start on the Waterfall Model.

Waterfall Model

Waterfall model is a classic SDLC model and has been the basis of the other methodologies. Advantages of this model include;

·         It is easy to use

·         It can be easily interpreted and understand

·         It can provide developers with a clear view of the structure of the project. It can also assist inexperienced members of the group for them to easily understand the processes and actions that have to be done.

·         Milestones are easily understood by the team. So they can focus on what to do.

·         Stability for the requirement is also observed.

·         It is good for controlling the entire project management team.

·         This process is recommended when quality is essential compared to the cost and schedule.

Disadvantages:

·         Project requirements must be identified upfront. Since this process follows a sequential linear flow, project requirements identified at later point cannot be easily appended to the project.

·         This model does not allow iterations. Therefore there is no problem solving nature in this process.  All of the needed information must be gathered first before doing a custom software development.

·         There are no prototypes hence the customer will only see the project at the end once the developed software and application is done.

When to Use Waterfall Model

Based on the advantages and disadvantages above, this SDLC model is useful if all of the requirements are evidently known. Thus, thorough research and interviews must be done in order to collect the needed data in the application development process. This model is also ideal on products and services that are firm and stable. It also requires that the software developers are geared with excellent software development skills in order to come up on a powerful and useful application.

The Waterfall model can also be used if the customer already has existing software that need to have a new version or update or an existing product that has to be imported on a new platform.

With a lot of the methodologies it might be difficult on what to choose. The important thing is that the SDLC model that you will use will work appropriately on your custom application and software development project.