It’s an eternal debate in the world of software development: Scrum vs Waterfall. Which is the best method of building software? While there are other methodologies, these two are regarded as the heavyweight champions. Each methodology has its own strengths and uses. In this guide, we’ll face them off against each other, comparing the pros and cons and when to deploy each development strategy.
What is Waterfall?
In the blue corner, we have Waterfall: a classic linear method that has been around since the 70s. As the name suggests, this methodology works by flowing straight down through each phase like a waterfall. These phases typically include Requirements Gathering, Design, Implementation, Testing, Deployment and Maintenance. Each phase must be fully completed before moving onto the next. No jumping back!
The pros of waterfall
- Simple structure: A step-by-step process makes this methodology easier to follow.
- Predictable workload: Each team member has clear milestones and does not have to worry about interruptions and changes.
- Thorough work: A longer timeframe for each phase can lead to more focus on details.
The cons of waterfall
- No room for change: Projects are followed rigidly step by step with no room for revisions - if a client’s requirements change (which can happen), the whole project must be started over from the beginning.
- Can discourage innovation: Waterfall lacks the fast-pace and tight collaboration of Scrum, which can make innovative problem-solving less common.
- Late testing headaches: All testing is done at the end, potentially resulting in a lot more bugs to solve (Scrum development encourages devs to test for and fix bugs as they go).
What is Scrum?
In the red corner, we have Scrum: an agile contender born in the 90s to tackle the rigidity of Waterfall. In this methodology, each phase (known as a ‘scrum event’) lasts about two to four weeks. These scrum events consist of planning, a ‘sprint’, a review meeting and a retrospective meeting. Daily ‘scrum meetings’ are also held to monitor progress. Amendments to previous phases are constantly made while still keeping development moving forward.
The pros of scrum
- Increased adaptability: Scrum allows for project changes without having to start over.
- Faster software delivery: By outsourcing services like design sprint agencies and keeping to tighter and shorter phase deadlines, the entire project can be completed faster
- More affordable for clients: Software development projects are typically charged by how long they take - making Scrum projects often much more affordable than Waterfall projects.
The cons of scrum
- Requires a flexible and highly organized team: Team members need to be prepared to take on changes and be much more organized. This often requires hiring much more committed and experienced developers.
- Higher stress for devs: The tighter deadlines, constant meeting interruptions and amendments can make Scrum projects more stressful - increase the risk of burnout or team members quitting.
- Potential for scope creep: Being more open to adjustments can allow project requirements to keep expanding, making deadlines harder to meet.
Waterfall vs Scrum: Who is the winner?
Both methodologies have their advantages, and so really depends on the type of projects as to which is better suited.
With projects where you have a strict and detailed brief to follow, it is typically better to follow a Waterfall method. Government contracts and projects involving rigid compliance often use this methodology. It’s also more suitable for small teams.
The scrum methodology is better suited to consumer apps and websites where there is more freedom for the development team to implement their own ideas. It’s also suitable for clients that need software to be developed faster or clients on a tighter budget. A larger team or outsourcing may be necessary.
