Many software development companies use several methods during the development process, and some products may need advanced and complicated techniques. However, the success of your software development project depends primarily on your ability to go back to basics. As a systematic approach, the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) won't disappoint you when it comes to addressing the most fundamental questions of “who, what, when, where and how” in your custom software development project. However, in this blog post, you'll learn about the stages and techniques of the SDLC that can help you kickstart the development process of your project.
The SDLC, or software development lifecycle, is a framework for documenting the activities involved in creating software from start to finish. The SDLC is not a linear framework, as its name suggests. From an idea to a complete plan to a functional prototype, each stage is the basis of the next step until the request is finalized. You can think of the released program as a launch pad for developing your software project.
After that, there are preparations such as assigning tasks to teams, setting milestones, setting delivery times, obtaining cost estimates, carrying out a risk analysis and developing a strategy to avoid them. This step involves developing a proof of concept and verifying and validating technical feasibility before continuing with the software development process. The next stage is the coding phase, in which software developers work to make their idea a reality. Software developers write KLOCs (thousands of lines of code) in programming languages they are familiar with.
The goal of the development team is to increase the speed of developers and, at the same time, maintain high quality. The software development team can choose to release the program all at once, as is done in cascade development, or it can divide it into parts (segments) and provide them separately (agile approach). Once the code is completed, the development team hands it over to the test team for evaluation. After creating, testing, modifying, retesting and certifying the software under production conditions, it is implemented in a production environment. If you use the Agile SDLC approach, development and implementation can refer to the introduction of MVP and other features.
New standards are likely to emerge as new technologies and user requirements change. The software development team must complete each stage of the software development lifecycle to address the new change and comply with these standards. New requirements are constantly being developed and modified. The program must be updated to meet these changes and remain competitive and vital. That's the logic behind perfect maintenance.
A software lifecycle model is a graphical representation of the software development process. Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) models and activities are the same for all models, even if the approach is different. The V-shaped model is also known as the verification and validation model. Verification and validation are closely related; development and testing are carried out in parallel.
The V-Model and Waterfall models are identical, except that the planning and execution of V-Model tests begins soon. When the needs analysis is completed, a quick design is produced and the prototype is delivered to the customer for evaluation. Customer feedback and refined requirements are used to modify the prototype and then presented to the customer for review. Once the prototype has been approved, it becomes a specification for creating the actual software.
The core software product is developed using a cascade methodology. The more internal cycle consists of collecting and analyzing requirements after planning, risk analysis, development and evaluation in the SDLC process. For subsequent loops, the strategy is to design and then implement and test. The iterative and incremental model divides the product into manageable parts.
In iterations, you don't need to plan much. For example, the function implemented in this iteration is determined and put into action. The phases of each iteration include requirements analysis, design, coding, and testing. There is no defined procedure in the Big Bang model.
Money and effort are combined as inputs, while the solution emerges as a complete product, which may not be what the customer needs. The model does not require much preparation or programming. The developer analyzes the requirements and codes the product based on their knowledge. In agile methodologies, a product is divided into small successive increments. Iterative and incremental models combine to form the agile approach.
It's a flexible approach to product development that emphasizes flexibility rather than need. In agile development, iterations are known as sprints. The product owner validates the product at the end of each sprint and, after approval, sends it to the customer. Each sprint takes two to four weeks.
The software development process must produce a high-quality product that meets the demands of users. The SDLC approach can help you avoid project failures, delays, or difficulties in the development process, regardless of how large or small the project is. This is a step-by-step guide that will help you implement your product idea. The SDLC comprises five steps of software development, from planning and gathering requirements, design, development, testing and quality control, and release to maintenance.
Each phase of SDL points to a final objective that will serve as a springboard for future actions. Consider the phases of the SDLC as an endless quest to improve your product and make it stronger than the competition or even surpass it. The general concept of the SDLC is to provide a standard procedure that a software development team must follow. However, the software development approach chosen determines how a development team approaches these phases. Development efforts are more likely to fail if there is no well-defined path and a sense of direction.
Frontend developer — React or Angular or VueJS — JS Framework. Each phase will produce the deliverables needed to execute the next steps in this software lifecycle. Over time, requirements translate into refined designs. The code is delivered in accordance with the plans that are called the development phase.
All of these stages are executed with the help of a team of software development professionals who are crucial to each step. No stage is complete without another. Once you've validated your need for custom software, established your objectives and results, and agreed on the scope of work with your development team, it's time to start designing. After receiving the design guidelines for the software to be created, the tasks of the design phase are divided equally into several units and modules. This is the stage where the actual coding begins.
The development phase is the part where developers write the code and create the application in accordance with the previous design documents and the specifications described. In addition, it is the longest stage, since it is the backbone of the entire process and there are a number of vital things to pay attention to. Developers will obey the specific coding guidelines predefined during this process. They will also use programming tools such as compilers, interpreters and debuggers to create and execute the code. After the development of the code, it is tested to see if it meets all the requirements that were determined in the first stage.
Various tests are carried out, such as system tests, unit tests, acceptance tests and integration tests. During the testing phase, developers will analyze their code thoroughly and note down any errors or defects that need to be tracked down, corrected, and then returned to be tested. Towards the end of the project, user acceptance tests must be carried out to ensure that the system has met the expected objectives. If something unexpected happens, the team can go back and redesign and rework their coding and perform additional analysis.
After the tests, this is the phase in which the actual installation of the designed solution takes place. It is done step by step in accordance with the implementation plan. The newly created and tested application is moved to production, including the transfer of data and components, while during the next versions only specific changes will be implemented. We look forward to speaking with you about your project. Discover why customers around the world trust to work with 5280 Software LLC.
We support our customers with mockups, sketches, diagrams and graphic design, development, product launch and ASO when we publish their application, and we even update the code at a competitive price. Do not hesitate to visit us on our social networks Facebook, YouTube, Twitter or send us a request to connect to LinkedIn to learn about our offers and get answers to your questions. Software development is a complex and multifaceted process that transforms a concept or idea into a functional and reliable software application. To ensure the successful creation of the software, developers follow a structured process that consists of several key steps.
In this blog, we'll discuss the five essential steps of the software development process and highlight each step with real examples that will help you understand the process from concept to implementation. Every step of the software development process contributes to the overall success of the project. It is a collaborative effort that involves different functions, and the effectiveness of each step affects the final quality, functionality and user satisfaction of the software. By understanding these steps, their uses, importance, advantages and disadvantages, you will be able to appreciate the complexities and challenges of software development.
Imagine that a customer wants to develop a customer relationship management (CRM) system for their sales team. In the requirements gathering phase, the development team interviews the customer to determine the specific characteristics needed, such as contact management, lead tracking, and reporting capabilities. Once the requirements are clear, the next step is to create a comprehensive project plan. This plan outlines the scope, schedule, and resource allocation for the development project.
It serves as a roadmap to guide the team throughout the development process. In our CRM project, the planning phase involves setting milestones, allocating development resources, and estimating project costs. A Gantt chart is created to visualize the project schedule, making it easy to track progress. In the design phase, the architecture and user interface of the software are developed. This step defines how the software will work and how users will interact with it. Design includes the creation of wireframes, prototypes and system architecture diagrams.
For the CRM project, the design phase focuses on creating wireframes for the user interface. It involves designing the design, navigation, and functionality of the CRM system. The development team can also design the database schema that will store customer data. Development is where the actual coding of the software takes place. The developers write the source code based on the design and requirements.
This phase can be time-consuming and requires careful attention to detail. In our CRM project, the development team uses programming languages such as Python, Java, JavaScript or the programming language depending on the objective of the project: writing the code for the CRM system. They create the various functions, such as adding new contacts, updating customer information, and generating reports. After the development phase, extensive testing is essential to ensure that the software works as intended.
Tests include unit tests, integration tests, and user acceptance tests. Once the software passes all tests and is free of critical issues, it's ready for deployment. The CRM system undergoes rigorous testing, including testing in different user scenarios, data validation, and performance testing. The development team addresses any issues identified. Once the software is considered stable and reliable, it is deployed on the client's servers or in the cloud so that users can access it.
The software development process is a structured journey that begins with understanding the requirements and ends with the implementation of a functional software application. Every step plays a critical role in ensuring that the software meets its intended objectives and works effectively. By following this process, developers can create software that solves real-world problems and provides value to businesses and users. The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) explains the different stages of a software cycle and the structure in which these stages take place. The result obtained at each stage is implemented in the next stage of the software lifecycle.
The requirements are converted into design and the design is used to develop the code. The final testing stage authenticates the results of the implementation stage by measuring them based on requirements. Here, the software and system design is developed in accordance with the instructions provided in the “Requirements Specification” document. The design stage establishes what hardware and what system requirements are needed, as well as the entire system architecture.
The results of this stage are used as input for the next one. At this stage, the actual coding is done and the code is produced based on the design specifications. This is the most critical and also the longest stage of the SDLC. The term “corrective maintenance” refers to the elimination of software faults to improve its performance.
Unnecessary risks can cost you time and money, especially in the IT industry, where most software projects have some element of risk. When the software goes through all the stages without complications, a maintenance cycle takes place in which it is updated and modified from time to time to adapt to changes. In general, it refers to the fact that software requires regular updates, which must be managed in order for its value proposition to remain valid. These approaches or models consist of a specific life cycle that they follow to determine the level of success in the software development process.
