The software development life cycle (SDLC) is a process used for providing high-quality solutions to various enterprises at a moderate cost.
The SDLC (software development life cycle) is an appreciated method from big-name enterprises to small start-up businesses in the digital world for providing software projects in a well-organized manner with efficient performance.
The following development models are the most used among software companies:
- Waterfall
- Agile
- Lean
- Iterative
- Prototyping
- DevOps
- Spiral
- V-model, etc
The life cycle provides a precise approach to organizations to develop successful software; it gives a step-by-step solution.
These methodologies contain the step from gathering the fundamental requirements to the deployment of a new product to maintaining a full-fledged product in the market.
The Software Development Life Cycle is a methodology with a clearly defined procedure to create software in detail with high-notch quality. The SDLC methodology focuses on these successive phases of software development:
- Planning
- Analysis
- Design
- Development
- Integration & Testing
- Implantation
- Maintenance
In this blog post, we will describe how SDLC (software development life cycle) works, how it’s beneficial for your business, and dive deeper into the lake of each phase.
How SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) works:
To make your product successful, SDLC lowers the cost of designing software development and concurrently enhances the quality, moreover delivers the outcome in a short span.
The fundamental of SDLC to achieve the divergent goals is to follow a plan that eliminates the errors and typical pitfalls while developing the software. And, even if the product is not new, the cycle takes the first look at the deficiencies by evaluating existing systems.
After gathering the errors from systems or fathoming the potential risks, the next step is to find the required solution for each problem. The creation of software goes through multiple stages to have a faultless product at the end.
This cycle anticipates the total expenses over the project and has communication between the end-users for constant feedback. SLDC fixes the bugs and eliminates redundant rework during the development.
However, the SDLC is most focused on the testing phase. And, as this methodology is iterative, you need to make sure that the quality of code doesn’t vary much.
Importance of SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) in business:
The procedure of SDLC is all about planning, designing, formation, testing, and deploying. This life cycle in one way is the traditional method for creating a software product by ensuring these aspects:
- A feasibility study
- Systems analysis
- Design & testing
- Implementation, testing
- Installation and maintenance
Although the other advantages of this life cycle are marvelous, however, we’ve narrowed down these most common benefits of SDLC for your business; let’s have a peek:
- SDLC executes the final goal clear beforehand, so you can go ahead with the project’s sell and marketing by incepting the idea in users’ minds.
- In the SDLC, the testing of the project is the most prioritized step, where they check and balance so that it’s safe for the users with precision before starting the installation phase.
- The documentation in the SDLC provides a well-structured paper trail of the project that helps your business to rise in the market.
- SDLC sticks to a profound budget to organize a project, thus your finance department doesn’t feel the sudden blow during the development of the product.
- The customization option of the SDLC model makes your project user-friendly as you custom it keeping the demands of your consumers.
The Phases of SDLC – Software Development Life Cycle:
#1 Planning:
The first and the foremost stage of SDLC is essential; as here, you will formulate a rough outline of your final product.
In this stage of the SDLC – software development life cycle, the professional ascertain the expense and resources that are required during the project. Also, during this phase, the potential risks involved are discovered along with the solution for them.
In other words, at the end of the planning phase, you’ll have a rough outline of the outcome, required resources & elements, and all the other necessary feasibility of the project.
#2 Analysis:
The second phase involves developers deciding a roadmap of their project and selecting the most suitable software development methodologies to reach the requirements of the project.
In the system analysis stage, the professional comprehends the limitation of a software product, the system problems, or the required modifications in existing systems.
Also, it determines the impact of the project on the revenue of the organization. The project team analyzes the extent of marketing the project in the business world.
#3 Design:
This phase of the SDLC converts the software specifications into a design plan known as the Design Specification.
SDLC takes consideration of all stakeholders to review this plan and get feedback as well as suggestions to improve the product. And this way, the input of the authority will make the task easier for the developers while designing the product.
If there are changes, this stage is perfect to imply them, so the collapse of the project will not occur, risking all the investment of the project.
#4 Development:
The development stage of SDLC is where the actual construction of the product takes place. Taking the consideration of DDS, the creation of programming code starts during this phase.
The code generation does not become a hassle house if your design plan is accurate, detailed, and organized.
Developers follow the guideline provided by the organization, along with implying these programming tools for the implication of the product.
- Compilers
- Interpreters
- Interfaces
- Debuggers
Also, the programming language depends on software and development metrology.
#5 Integration & Testing:
Integration testing is a methodology to test individual software elements and units of code to ensure that the interaction between several software components and the interface doesn’t affect the product negatively.
The test of code makes sure that it is bug-free and fulfills the requirement of the client precisely, without skipping a bit of input given by the clients with software products and any necessary hardware.
During this phase, the components are examined as individuals iteratively. And, after passing through the integration testing, the components are promptly available for system implantation.
Integration testing encompasses these:
- Performance of component
- The functionality of components
- Reliability
#6 Implantation:
Implementation or as some professional refers to this stage as Coding starts after the developers take hold of the Design document. Here starts the transformation of the Software design into the code.
All the tested components from the previous phase get implanted into the system during this stage. Also, while implanting, the engineering teams code the product.
At this stage, the software development team transposes the high-level roadmap, planning, processing into a full-fledged product to take your product near the release of the outcome after confirming with the higher-authority.
#7 Maintenance:
The final phase of SDLC, where the users begin to use the developed system, and it is time for the team to maintain the promised quality to users.
The development team focuses on maintaining these following points as it comes out via the users:
- Requests for enhancements
- Bug fixing if there are any
- Upgradation
- Enhancement of new features
In this phase, as soon as the user faces the issues, the development takes the matter in hand and resolves it to provide the smooth functioning of the software product.
Wrap it up:
Now, it’s time to wrap it up as you’re now aware of the importance of the software development life cycle and how it works in the various phases; it’s time for you to pick suitable software development methodologies as per the nature of your project.
Just keep in mind that different software development models have their advantages and disadvantages. However, you can decide that only by determining the factors such as the size of your project, the complexity of the system, your budget, the need for software outsourcing, etc.
Also Read – Most Effective Cost-estimation Factors for Custom Software Development