Agile and Lean are two distinct approaches in software development with different strengths and weaknesses. Agile focuses on delivering valuable increments of a product, while Lean focuses on improving work flow by reducing waste and improving cycle time. Lean is best suited for environments with well-defined requirements, while Agile practices are needed to validate the value delivered by Minimum Viable Products (MVP) and design decisions. Premature use of Lean practices can hinder architectural evolution until Quality Attribute Requirements are well understood. Understanding the differences between Agile and Lean is essential for developing effective software architecture practices.
