Software Engineering basics - Disadvantages of the Waterfall Model

Disadvantages of the Waterfall Model

The Waterfall Model is simple and easy to understand, but it has several important limitations, especially for large or changing projects.

1. No Going Back
Once a phase is completed, it’s difficult to return and make changes. For example, if a mistake is found in the requirements during testing, there’s no built-in way to fix it without starting over.

2. Late Testing
Testing is done only after the entire software is built. This means that errors or design issues are often discovered very late in the project, which makes them harder and more expensive to fix.

3. Not Suitable for Changing Requirements
The model assumes that all requirements are known at the beginning and won’t change. In real life, clients often change their needs, and the Waterfall Model does not handle changes well.

4. Delays in Delivering Working Software
No part of the product is delivered until the end. Clients can’t see or use a working version of the software until the entire development cycle is complete.

5. Risk of Wasted Work
If there are issues or misunderstandings in the early phases, all the effort put into later stages can go to waste. This is especially risky in long-term projects.