How to Speed Up Software Development (and Other Key Tricks of the Trade)

braden collum ttbCwN mWic unsplash

You know the feeling of adrenaline that comes from watching fast cars sprint to the finish line, especially when they come out unscathed? That’s what it’s like in many software development companies. They are all racing to deliver faster than their rivals with minimal to no error.

The estimated $812.90 billion software market share in the next five years makes it even more obvious why organizations are continuously on their toes to meet deadlines. For their projects to get a foothold in this competitive industry, software development companies must match customer needs for a shorter time to market.

But guess what?

Improving software development time for your company or team doesn’t have to make the wheels fly off. We’ve helped a wide range of clients get around the bottlenecks that were stifling their development process. 

Is your project schedule spiraling out of control? We can get you back on track.

And if you want to learn how to expedite the software development process, keep reading. The TurnKey team shares a few time-proven tricks that will help you achieve faster software development. But first, let’s put the factors responsible for software development speed on the hot seat.

What does software development speed depend on?

The speed of software development can be influenced by a number of key factors. Let’s go over each one here:

#1. Project complexities

Technically, you can’t compare the complexities involved in developing a game like Tetris with those involved in developing a game like Call of Duty. 

A software project can be simple or complex. While the simple project is a stroll in the park, the complex project comes with many difficulties like complex architecture, an increased number of unique features, and multiple third-party integrations. 

The more complex the software, the longer the time your team members will have to put in to get the best result.

#2. Code quality

Remember the scene in Fast and Furious 8 where Dominic Torreto had to boost a weaker engine to make it insanely fast? Yes, he built a powerful product, but he cut corners. Well, we all know how that ended. The car got to the finish line and then promptly burst into flames. 

That’s what happens when you compromise code quality to save time and speed up development. In the long run, it will create more errors that will only add to further delays. 

That is not to say your team shouldn’t find a way to get the job done faster. But when they do it, ensure that your development gaze is focused on quality.

#3. Team size

team size determines software development

Some of the things that determine the success of a project are the flow of communications and the skill set of each team player. If you are handling a complex project, you will naturally need to hire more developers to get the job done quickly. But with more players on the team, it becomes harder to manage communications and workflow processes. 


It’s ideal to work with a development team structure of 3-9. Even a 10- or 11-person team put together to make development faster can make your team combust, especially in terms of management. The go around? Break the team up into smaller units to handle specific chunks of the larger project.

Getting ahead on your next round of development projects is easier when you have a dedicated team that you can manage every step of the way.

#4. Human factor

You’re only as strong as your weakest link. So the contributions of each player on your development team determines the entire team’s efficiency. Of course, the task will be completed considerably more quickly if everyone in the team has the required knowledge, expertise, and drive. But that does not imply that hiring less experienced developers is a bad idea. 

Although it will take some time for less experienced engineers to become acquainted with the complete development process, once they’re up to speed, they could leapfrog that experience and dedication right into leadership. Win/win.

How to speed up software development

Thinking about how to speed up software development in your upcoming project? Here are simple tactics to help you get through it.

  • Develop a clear blueprint
  • Plan and establish achievable KPIs
  • Expand your team
  • Build a balanced team 
  • Reduce your work in progress
  • Utilize the Lean Methodology
  • Steer clear of technical debt
  • Automate your process

Let’s look at these tactics in detail, shall we?

Develop a clear blueprint

The success of your project is entirely hinged on getting the blueprint right. If your team members have a good grasp of the project’s requirements and goals, and know what to do and when to do it, you are already halfway through your project.

As the project manager, ensure you have written blueprints of the project’s goal, requirements, specifications, features, and third-party integration, combined with a breakdown of the task progression flow.

Getting this step right doesn’t just ensure workflow efficiency, it helps you hire the right developers.

Ensure your team has a mental picture of what they are expected to do and how it aligns with the project’s overall outcome.

Plan and establish achievable KPIs

Psychologically, people who plan ahead and break their plans down into measurable goals are 76% more likely to achieve them. To tap into the nuance in your software development process, you must establish solid KPIs to measure how development effort aligns with project goals.

Most software development companies use traditional KPIs like the number of codes written, the number of commits, and the number of deploys, which are often flawed as they do not measure how these inputs align with the project’s objective in a real sense. 

Ideally, your KPI should focus on the software’s scalability as a measurement of performance. Hence you can keep track of your project’s performance progress with yardsticks like velocity (usefulness of work performed within a timeframe), cycle time (the time spent completing a specific task), and work in progress (a gauge of outstanding tasks within a period).

Expand your team

If you are faced with a complex software project, or you are working with a project development deadline that is burning out your team’s physical and mental prowess, then it is time to hire more developers for the team. But before you hire more resources and integrate them into your team structure, ensure you have laid out a good map of what the project needs and the areas not sufficiently covered. 

If you realize you need more digital product designers from your project’s blueprint, hire more UI/UX designers. If you have a shortfall in testing the project, get more QA engineers. And if you realize that the project will burn a lot of time on the coding aspect, hire more coders. Don’t just hire because you are overwhelmed by the workload. Expand your team by hiring to meet the project’s specific needs.

Build a balanced team

As you well know about software development, working with a large team of skilled hands doesn’t guarantee the efficiency of the work process. Large teams can easily fall into the traps of poor communication and clogged workflow. However, breaking up your team into smaller, manageable units with specific duties can greatly improve workflow, quality of project, and delivery time. Blending this with comprehensive testing and integration can set you apart from your competitors.

 

In addition, ensure your team comprises the right personnel with the necessary skills to ace the project. And guess what? At Turnkey Labs, we can help you hire the right development team. 

WHO SAID HELP? WE DID. NEED SOME? WE GOT YOU. CHECK OUT OUR HANDY DANDY GUIDE ON HOW TO HIRE THE RIGHT TEAM.

Reduce your work in progress

Remember when you were in high school facing a tight deadline for a complex project and you were like no worries bro, I thrive on procrastination? Well, that thinking doesn’t apply here. 

In fact, pushing your team to a multitasking limit as they go back-to-back on deadlines to finish a project on time leaves them straight up burnt out. Every development team has been there (including ours back in the day). It leaves your managers scrambling to get everyone back to their A-game status. 

One way to keep your team fresh is to limit the team’s work in progress. You can use the Kanban board to oversee the development process.

On your Kanban board, itemize the maximum number of tasks each team unit is expected to handle. Managing projects this way will give ample time for developers to plan, criticize, and submit reviews.

Utilize the Lean Methodology

Utilizing the Lean Methodology in the software development process means cutting excesses, maximizing available resources, and concentrating solely on the core aspect of the project. You can achieve this by optimizing your team to focus on building the essential aspect of the project on time. 

This will help you to quickly generate user feedback and improve the overall quality of your software.

Steer clear of technical debt

technical debt

We have talked so much about not compromising on the quality of deliverables in order to accelerate getting to market on time. But what if we told you that you could compromise on the quality of software in order to increase development to market time significantly? This process is called technical debt, and it is not such a bad thing in software development. 

This is especially true in software projects where the major focus is not on quality but on deployment in the market. In cases like these, it would make sense if you put a strategic plan in place to make up for the omission later on. Failure to do so will only lead to system complexities which will keep deteriorating, thereby impacting how fast development is done.

According to a study published on Researchgate, 36% of all development time is wasted due to technical debt. Our unsolicited advice: Stay away from technical debt if you want to keep your sanity. Rely on it only when necessary, and be sure to document any omissions for future improvement.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TECHNICAL DEBT AND HOW IT CAN HELP (OR HURT) YOUR GO-TO-MARKET PLAN? CHECK OUT OUR GUIDE HERE.

Automate your process

Although software development requires more manual labor, there remain certain areas that you can automate to take some pressure off of your team. Let’s take a look at them.

 

  • Automated testing: One sure way to merge speed and quality in your software development process is by employing automated testing. With automated testing, you can employ Regression, Unit, and API testing to validate software functionality, measure performance, and ident
  • CI/CD process: By adopting the Continuous Integration (CI) software development methodology, each team player merges code updates into a central database numerous times daily. The method of automating the software release process is known as Continuous Delivery. Implementing a CI/CD pipeline can help expedite development. It excludes human faults, offers immediate feedback, and facilitates a quick iterative process.

Choose Agile development

agile development

Ensure your teams use agile development methodologies. Modify the methodologies to sync with the project’s complexities. The focus of Agile is to have a prototype at the earliest time, then have ample time for fine-tuning.

Bonus tip: Choose an offshore (even better: a yourshore) partner

Choosing an offshore partner will help you boost your capacity to optimize development costs and time without sacrificing quality. With offshore, you collaborate with development experts across the globe to have faster and more cost-efficient output. 

Granted, offshore is old school. It can be problematic if you don’t work with the right offshore agency. Some of the more common issues are lack of dedication, flexibility, and effective communication. 

We should know. We lived through every possible inefficiency and they led to the creation of TurnKey, where we took offshoring to a new level. Our approach is like offshoring on steroids—it’s offshoring, but you can have it your way. (Like Burger King in the 70s, but without the cholesterol.)

TurnKey designed the special approach to offshore tech staffing to give startups, companies, and businesses the benefits of offshoring without the risks. With us, you have an offshore team that is dedicated and loyal to you and integrates seamlessly with your team, your culture, your timelines, and your product needs.

We provide a team, you make the rules, you call the shots, and you have control.

If you’re thinking of going offshore, you should do it the Yourshore way for optimal results and efficient collaborations. Call TurnKey, and let’s build a Yourshore team that fits like a glove.

One more thing—you’re going to need a kick ass manager to help bring your teams together and your project to life. TurnKey can help there, too. We’ll find you the best fit for your project, then give you the reins. 

DON’T BELIEVE US? READ HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT OFFSHORE COMPANY HERE. (YES WE WROTE IT, BUT IT’S GOOD.)

Summary

The software development market is booming and ramping up its intensity on the daily. Helping your teams develop scalable software within a tight deadline can earn you a competitive edge in the market. Stay on top of your game without compromising quality with TurnKey.

Have the ideal team in mind for your project but don’t know where to find them? Turnkey has your back. Let’s go get those developers.

FAQ

What is the development time?

Development time is the total number of hours it takes a software developer or a development team to finish a particular task. It covers the period between the first commit and the final release. Although different factors influence development time, it is important to optimize the development process to have a faster development time.

How can I reduce my software development time?

You can reduce software development time by establishing and following a clear and well-thought-out plan. This includes developing a blueprint that covers the entire project, identifying what will be needed to complete the project, and establishing a realistic timeframe. Also, set KPIs and milestones, and have an experienced team on board.

What are the factors contributing to development time?

Software development time is generally determined by a number of factors, including the project's complexity, the development team's expertise and size, the code quality, the human factor, and budget size.

January 19, 2023

TurnKey Staffing provides information for general guidance only and does not offer legal, tax, or accounting advice. We encourage you to consult with professional advisors before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business or legal rights.

Tailor made solutions built around your needs

Get handpicked, hyper talented developers that are always a perfect fit.

Let’s talk
🤖 Need more answers?

Please rate this article to help our team improve our content.

This website uses cookies for analytics, personalization, and advertising. By clicking ‘Accept’, you consent to our use of cookies as described in the cookies clause (Art. 5) of our Privacy Policy. You can manage your cookie preferences or withdraw your consent at any time. To learn more, please visit our Privacy Policy.