Software development doesn’t come cheap. But precisely what you’ll pay depends on various factors. There are obvious ones, like the number of features in your software and their complexity. And slightly less obvious ones, such as the experience and expertise of the software development team and where in the world it’s located. However, the final tab also depends on the software development company’s approach and techniques.
This blog post will explain more about software development companies’ different approaches and techniques, the pros and cons of using them, and how they affect costs.
If your software developer uses a Test-Driven Development (TDD) approach, your costs will likely be higher. In TDD, instead of launching straight into writing the code, developers create a ‘test case’ for every piece of code, no matter how small. This means they decide how each code should work before writing it and then check it against the test case. The TDD approach could stretch development time by at least a third, possibly two-thirds. So, a project that might otherwise take 6 weeks to complete might take 8 to 10 weeks and cost considerably more.
However, although TDD requires more time and effort upfront, it usually results in higher-quality software with cleaner code, which could save you money in the long run. This is because every code is tested automatically during the development stages. In turn, this means that developers address any problems immediately, so you won’t have to pay to fix them later.
Over the years, development companies have used a range of architectures – or methodologies – to help manage the software development process. Over the years, better technology and servers have led to more sophisticated architectures.
First, there was MVC, which stands for Model (the software data), View (what you see on the screen), and Controller (how the software responds to your actions). This enabled developers to work on different parts of code separately. MVC then evolved into MVVM, with ViewModel (VM) emphasising the interaction between the data and its appearance on the screen. This made it easier to develop more intricate user interfaces. Later came Microservices Architecture, which breaks complex software into individual components so developers can work on one piece at a time.
How you build software can affect how long it takes to finish a project and how much it costs. While it’s vital to improve methodologies, it can be challenging. It involves learning new things and extra costs for implementation and training. Some companies embrace the change, completing projects faster with the more recent processes. In contrast, others stick to their old ways, which might take longer and be more costly.
In software development, having the right individuals in the right roles plays a crucial part in producing a top-quality product on time and within budget. The importance of this is impossible to overstate. However, the dynamic nature of technology and the diversity of skills required means this is easier said than done. Identifying the ideal candidate for a specific job involves assessing their skills, experience, and adaptability – while also considering the evolving demands of the project. Team dynamics and the availability of suitable candidates make the job harder still. Consequently, achieving a precise fit between individuals and roles requires meticulous planning, ongoing evaluation, and adaptability.
In the case of some software projects, the development process starts with a brief that outlines the project requirements. The work is then divided into smaller phases called sprints, each with its own set of tasks and goals. At the end of each sprint, the development team reports on their progress, and the project manager provides feedback to guide the next sprint, ensuring the project stays on course.
The other method is to design a clickable prototype of the finished project using a prototyping tool like Figma or Photoshop. The prototype will include a user journey, mapping out all the steps involved in using the final product. Once developed, the prototypes are presented to the stakeholders to show them how the final software will function. After gathering feedback from the stakeholders, the prototypes are adjusted before the development phase begins. While prototyping can help minimise errors and costly revisions, it does require an initial investment of effort and time which can add to costs.
A Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipeline is a set of automated software development processes and tools to ensure that code changes are tested, integrated, and delivered smoothly and consistently.
Implementing a CI/CD pipeline into software development projects can drastically reduce the time it takes to get products to market, significantly reducing costs. A CI/CD pipeline can also increase collaboration between the different teams involved in the project and make the whole development process more streamlined. However, building and managing a CI/CD pipeline takes time, and there are associated costs.
Software documentation plays a considerable but often overlooked part in the cost of software development. Keeping documents up to date is an important task, and you will usually need to pay an experienced and qualified person to do this on an ongoing basis.
Software development costs are influenced by various factors, from development architecture decisions and human resource issues to the use of prototypes, CI/CD pipelines, and documentation. While some practices incur additional initial expenses, they often lead to higher-quality software, potentially reducing long-term costs and ensuring successful project outcomes. Ultimately, the key is to strike a balance between upfront investments and long-term gains.
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Experts in Digital Transformation, Satva Softech help organisations embed systems and processes digitally and expand their business by creating transformational digital solutions.
