What Is the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)? Phases Explained
The software development life cycle explained phase by phase, with the deliverables each stage produces and how modern agile and DevOps teams compress the cycle.
Software Development
What is Kanban?
Quick answer
A visual workflow method that uses a board of columns and cards to track tasks and limit work in progress.
Kanban, explained
Kanban originated in Toyota's manufacturing system and was adapted for knowledge work, including software development. A basic board has columns such as To Do, In Progress, and Done. Each task is a card that moves across the board as work progresses, so everyone can see the status at a glance.
A key Kanban practice is limiting work in progress. For example, a team might allow no more than three cards in the In Progress column, which encourages finishing tasks before starting new ones and exposes bottlenecks. Unlike Scrum, Kanban does not require fixed-length sprints or specific roles, making it popular for support teams and continuous delivery. Tools like Trello and Jira offer digital Kanban boards.
Related terms
Agile
An iterative approach to software development that delivers work in small increments and adapts to feedback instead of following a fixed upfront plan.
ScrumAn Agile framework in which a small team delivers work in fixed-length iterations called sprints, with defined roles and regular reviews.
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