Introduction to Software Development Methodologies

This lesson introduces software development methodologies as the set of rules, routines, and decision-making patterns teams use to plan, build, test, and deliver software. It explains why methodologies exist, what problems they solve, and how they shape collaboration, predictability, quality, and speed.

You will learn the difference between a methodology, a process, and a framework, plus the major factors that influence methodology choice. The lesson also sets up the rest of the course by showing how to evaluate approaches based on team size, product risk, changing requirements, and delivery goals.