Iterative development is a software development approach where the final product is built incrementally through a series of iterations or cycles. It's like building a pizza one topping at a time, except instead of a pizza, it's a complex software system that probably integrates with a bunch of legacy spaghetti code written by some dude named Bob who retired 5 years ago.

How to use it in a sentence

• "We better use iterative development on this project, or else we'll end up like that team that tried to build that AI chatbot and ended up creating a racist, misogynistic monster."

• "I know you want to use the waterfall approach, but trust me, iterative development is the way to go unless you want to end up like one of those failed government IT projects that burns through billions of dollars and delivers nothing."

If you actually want to learn more...

• Is Predictability Impossible? Most business software projects are unpredictable and require adaptive processes rather than predictable methodologies. Acknowledging this unpredictability is crucial for adopting processes that provide control. martinfowler.com/articles/newMethodology.html

• Ability to Truly Iterate: Despite the concept of iteration being around for a while, many Scrum teams are still confined to scope-based sprint commitments rather than solving problems iteratively. True iterative problem-solving is more feasible for stable, long-lived product-mode teams. martinfowler.com/articles/products-over-projects.html

• Waterfall Process: The waterfall approach assumes each phase provides a stable foundation for the next, but requirements frequently change. Iterative development, delivering subsets of features early, helps clarify subsequent needs and supports adaptive planning. martinfowler.com/bliki/WaterfallProcess.html

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