What are different aspects of iterative approach?

Iterative approach along with incremental development forms the heart of software development process or cycle which has been developed in response to the weaknesses of the sequential approach of water fall model.

Iterative approach begins with the execution of an initial plan and is ended with deployment with the interactions between the implementation and testing components of the cycle.

Iterative approach forms an important part of the extreme programming, rational unified process and agile software development frame works apart from the cyclic software development process.

It is similar to following the plan- do- check- act cycle of business development process.

BASIC IDEA BEHIND ITERATIVE APPROACH

- The basic idea behind this iterative approach is to develop a system or application through repeated cycles or iterations and in smaller units at one time (called incremental development).

- Such an approach allows the software testers and developers to take the advantage of earlier learnt lessons during the development of the software system or application.

- Learning comes simultaneously from development as well use of the software system or application.

- The basic idea of this whole iteration approach is to implement a task and its redesigning as stated in the project control list.

- It involves analysis of the current version of the software system or application.

STEPS IN ITERATIVE APPROACH
- The key steps involve implementation of the sub sets of the software system or application requirements and this in turn leads to the enhancement of the evolving versions until the implementation of the full software system or application.

- At each step of iteration approach slight modifications in the design are made and new functional features are added.

- The first step in the procedure for iterative approach involves the process of initialization.

- The objective of the initialization step is to create a basic version of the software system or application to which the users of the software can react and give useful feedback.

- The created basic version offers a sample of all the key features and aspects of the problem concerned and also provides a solution to that problem which can be easily implemented.

- The second step is the iteration step.

- The third step involves the controlling of the project development cycle.

- The third step involves creation of a list records of all the tasks and processes that are needed to be performed and the steps which guide the whole process of iteration process.

- The project control list also includes the new features and aspects that have to be added to the software system or application.

- Apart from all this the list also mentions the areas of the software system or application that have to be redesigned from the existing solution of the problem.

- During the analysis phase the list is regularly revised and new points are continuously added.

PRINCIPLES OF ITERATION TESTING
According to the principles of the iteration testing:

- The design as well as its implementation of any iteration should be simple, modular and straight forward.

- However the level of designing is not mentioned in the project control list.

- The analysis of an iterative project is solely based up on the user feedback and the program analysis methodologies available.

- The analysis includes testing of the structure, usability, modularity, reliability, efficiency and goal achievement rate.

- If the project is found lagging in any of these aspects, the project control list is modified accordingly.

- The iterative approach involves slicing up of functionality of the software system in to small portions or increments as they are commonly called.

- In each and every increment functionality is added via cross discipline method and from the requirements to the deployment.