Advantages and Disadvantages of using Spiral Model

The Spiral Model is a software development approach that involves iterative development with risk management. It is appropriate for large, complex, and high-risk projects, because it provides continuous improvement through multiple phases or spirals. Planning, prototyping, and feedback are the core principal of each stage in this model.

In this article we will see advantages and disadvantages of using Spiral Model in detail.

What is Spiral Model?

Spiral Model is also known as Meta Model because it include all the other SDLC models. In its diagrammatic representation, it looks like a spiral with many loops that is the reason it is called a spiral. Each loop of the spiral is called a phase of the software development process. This model has the capability to handle risks.

Advantages of Spiral Model

These are following advantages of using the spiral model:

1. Software is produced early in the software life cycle.
2. Risk handling is one of important advantages of the Spiral model, it is best development model to follow due to the risk analysis and risk handling at every phase.
3. Flexibility in requirements. In this model, we can easily change requirements at later phases and can be incorporated accurately. Also, additional Functionality can be added at a later date.
4. It is good for large and complex projects.
5. It is good for customer satisfaction. We can involve customers in the development of products at early phase of the software development. Also, software is produced early in the software life cycle.
6. Strong approval and documentation control.
7. It is suitable for high risk projects, where business needs may be unstable. A highly customized product can be developed using this.

Disadvantages of Spiral Model

These are the following disadvantages of Spiral Model

1. It is not suitable for small projects as it is expensive.
2. It is much more complex than other SDLC models.
3. Too much dependable on risk analysis and requires highly specific expertise.
4. Difficulty in time management. As the number of phases is unknown at the start of the project, so time estimation is very difficult.
5. Spiral may go on indefinitely.
6. End of the project may not be known early.
7. It is not suitable for low risk projects.
8. May be hard to define objective, verifiable milestones. Large numbers of intermediate stages require excessive documentation.

Conclusion

The spiral model is best fit for high risk project because it detects possible problems early but at the cost of time-consuming and expensive. This model applies to complex projects that have continually changing requirements, it may be too much for some smaller projects due to its high demands on documentation and planning.

rajkumarupadhyay515

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