You can produce software quickly and within budget by implementing a custom Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). It will save you time and effort for your entire software development team. You'll also delight your customers as it meets their expectations.
Software development involves a complex and lengthy process. If any of these need to be done correctly, they can harm the final result as well as customer satisfaction. Software development is an enormous task, and digital product teams depend on SDLC. SDLC is usually a series of methodologies that follow the main stages in development.
Understanding the SDLC can assist product managers in guiding the project through to its completion. This helps product managers understand milestones and to communicate their progress with stakeholders. Jump in! It is, therefore, important to take care of your overall process.
What is the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)?
The software development life cycle is the process used by development teams to produce software of high quality and efficiency. It is important to reduce risks and ensure that the software will meet the expectations of the client during production and afterward.
The process involves creating a plan that will guide product development and breaking it down into small modules. These can then be completed and measured, making the entire process more manageable. The Software Development Life Cycle is the complete development process for a software product. It includes different phases and steps that take it from conception to deployment and maintenance. It typically includes seven steps:
- Needs analysis.
- Plan or think about it.
- You can also Design Your Own.
- The Development of the Developing Countries.
- Testing.
- Deployment.
- Maintenance and operations.
SDLC is a plan that includes a defined and detailed plan for each of the phases. Software development teams can use this plan to build, test and deploy software solutions. This cycle allows you to produce software of high quality that meets customer requirements and is completed in the time and cost estimated.
What are the Benefits of SDLC?
The product team can face challenges in managing changing requirements, keeping up with new technologies, and working together. The SDLC can be a great tool. SDLC is a tool that allows the team managing the product to organize the process, specifying clear deliverables and goals at each stage. The SDLC allows the product team to ensure that everyone agrees on requirements and goals for software development and has a plan in place.
SDLC allows you to measure and optimize the software development process. It allows for a deep analysis of each phase. This will allow you to maximize efficiency and speed at every stage. The benefits of SDLC are explained in more detail:
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Clear Goals
SDLC is a structure that provides clear goals and plans in each phase. IT teams, designers, developers, testers, and other members of the team collaboration must adhere to these and meet deliverables by a certain deadline. The developers and engineers can only move on to the next phase when the previous stage is completed and has been approved by their manager.
The process is completed without any confusion and waste of resources. This keeps all parties on the same page in terms of software development. Everyone can communicate more transparently and contribute in the way they are expected to.
Quicker Process
The team can complete their task without any doubt if they have detailed instructions. The workflow is accelerated, and the approval process is streamlined so that they can move on to the next step. So, all software development processes, including building, testing, and deployment, become faster. It improves the time to market and gives you the edge over your competition.
Minimum Cost
In the SDLC planning phase, each project receives a feasible cost estimate. The document also details how resources are distributed at each phase, such as the number of team members needed, the time allocated, the project management tools required, and any other elements necessary to finish the task. The team can achieve its goal by using a comprehensive cost estimate at every stage.
Quality Products
SDLC's goal is to create high-quality software while keeping the budget and timeline as low as possible. The team will be able to develop faster products with clear goals and the transparency of collaboration. They'll also have enough time to improve the performance, functionality, and key features. These factors will help you create a product of high quality that customers enjoy.
Customer Satisfaction
Customer satisfaction is paramount. SDLC begins with understanding the requirements and needs of customers. Teams can plan to meet the needs by discussing them and planning together effectively. Software development processes are designed with the customer's needs in mind. The end product could therefore meet the customer's needs. You can delight customers by adhering to the SDLC.
You Can Also Design On Your Own
The design phase is when you start putting pen to paper. Software Design Document (SDD), which includes system design, template, language to be used, platform, and security measures, is created from the original vision and plan. You can also use this area to flowchart the way that software reacts to actions by users. Most often, the prototype will be developed during the design phase. The team can visualize the final product and make any necessary changes by creating a prototype.
The Development of the Developing Countries
The development team divides the project into modules and then converts the requirements into code. The SDLC can be a long phase. It would be best if you had an established timeline with milestones to help the software developers know what you expect and so that you can track the progress. In some cases, the test stage and the development phase can be combined. This is done to make sure there aren't any critical bugs.
Deployment
In the phase of deployment, you deliver your product to its intended users. This process can be automated, and you can schedule the deployment based on its type. If you only want to deploy a minor feature, then you could do it with just a few users. You can find out more about software development life cycles (SRLC) if you're creating new software.
How Does SDLC Work?
It outlines the different steps required to develop, maintain, and deploy a software product. The software development life cycle helps managers allocate resources, time, and costs among team members to ensure that tasks are completed within the budget and timeline.
The SDLC is a guideline that managers, designers, developers, testers, and members of the operation team can use to make decisions. To ensure that your project is on schedule and meets customer expectations, the SDLC also includes routine monitoring.
Software development team breaks down the SDLC phases into smaller components. Planning may involve marketing research or tech research. Some steps may also overlap, such as when testing and development work together to fix problems simultaneously. Let's look at the phases of SDLC in more detail to understand how it works.
What is the Process of SDLC?
There are seven phases of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC):
Read More: What is SDLC?
The Collection and Analysis of Requirements
Take the time before you begin a project to learn what exactly your client wants from their software. Help understand the client's exact needs; your software development project may not meet their expectations. If they want you to make major changes or change the scope, you've wasted your money and time.
Avoid making assumptions or giving vague instructions. Extraction of clear client goals, expectations, preferences, and choices. Senior team members such as project managers or business analysts will schedule meetings with clients to understand the requirements better. The information they gather may include the following:
- What is the final user?
- How would the software look in its final form?
- Its main purpose
- It solves what problems?
- What is the expectation of the client?
This means that your team must work with clients throughout the entire software development cycle. It is important to regularly gather customer feedback and make adjustments to your work to meet their needs.
Analysts begin by analyzing feasibility in terms of operations, financials, legal, timeframes, and other factors. They also clear up any possible doubts. The developers then prepare a Software Requirement Specification (SRS), which keeps the entire team on the same page.
Plan or Idea
The software development team will plan the most effective way to create the software using an SRS that is unambiguous. It is important to adhere to client requirements while optimizing the creation process.
The team will need to estimate the costs, timeframe, resources, and effort required to finish the project. This stage only covers some of the technical details of the project but rather a general idea as to whether or not it is feasible. It also includes identifying the risks, ways to minimize or mitigate them, and planning quality assurance. The team will then be able to determine how best to develop the software with minimal risk, cost, time, and improved productivity.
Design
In the SDLC Phase 3, the software specifications are transformed into a well-defined design plan. This is also called a design specification. This document is reviewed by important stakeholders based on parameters such as the robustness of the product, assessment of risk, modularity in design, time frame, costs, etc.
The stakeholders provide feedback, and adjustments are made. Developers use this document to create the architecture of software, which acts as a framework for the rest of the project. During this stage, you plan your software architecture, the user interface, and the system architecture. This will ensure that all functionalities and non-functionalities are addressed. This will allow you to build software components without rewriting them.
In addition to architectural modules, the design also includes representing data flows and communications in the product using external or third-party modules. The internal layout of the module must also be clearly defined with all its details. There are two main types of modules:
- Low-level Design (LLD), also known as low-level architecture, is a design that outlines functional logic, such as the size, type, and number of database tables, inputs, outputs, errors, dependencies, etc.
- The High-Level Design (HLD), also known as the high-level design, is a document that contains information such as module names and descriptions, the functionality of modules, interface relationships between modules and dependencies, an architecture diagram, technology description, and database tables.
Development
The design documents are then sent to the team of developers, who begin developing the source codes for the new design. In this phase, all software components will be created and assembled. The developers follow their company's guidelines for tooling and coding, such as programming languages, monitors, debuggers or interpreters, and compilers. The code is run on the infrastructure, which includes servers and networking.
Many companies use DevOps to close the gap between the traditional methods of managing software development and the management of operations. This approach brings together both development and product development teams from the beginning to work on a single complex project.
Testing
It is crucial to check the code for errors and ensure that it meets the requirements. After coding, software teams test their code and thoroughly evaluate its modules and components. Software testing is performed in different ways on different software elements. Testing is used to assess software's functionality, performance, and any bugs or errors:
- Functional Testing: Alpha testing and beta testing. Smoke testing.
- Non-Functional Testing: Stress testing (performance testing), load testing (volume testing), compatibility testing (security testing), usability testing (reliability testing), acceptance testing, etc.
Software testing can be performed manually or using software to detect and track issues. Then, these issues are fixed and reported. The process is repeated until the software has no bugs and is up to standard.
Deployment
The software is ready to be deployed in production after it has been tested and fixed. You can use user acceptance testing (UAS) to see if the software meets customer expectations. This is done by making a copy and having your client and developers test it. If there is any feedback from the clients, the team of software developers will improve the product. Then, the software is released to end users.
Operation and Maintenance
You still need to finish when you deliver the software to your clients. It still requires constant monitoring, updates, and maintenance to maintain it at its optimal working state. To meet customer demand and address security concerns, it is important to create new features and functionalities as well as security updates to delight users. The team must be vigilant in monitoring the software and looking for problems. To maintain the quality of their software, any issues with performance or security must be immediately reported.
Some Popular SDLC Models
Computer systems can be complex. Many are linked to different systems provided by software providers. Other SDLC models have been created to manage this complexity. The following are examples:
Waterfall Model
The Waterfall Model is one of the oldest and most popular approaches to software lifecycle development. The Waterfall model is simple and linear, whereby the output of one phase becomes the input of the next phase. The next phase begins only after the last phase is completed.
This involves the collection of requirements and system analysis, as well as its design and implementation. It also includes testing, deployment, and maintenance. This is a good choice for projects that are longer in duration, have clearly defined requirements, and require more precision than flexibility.
Agile Model
Agile development models break down the project into small incremental releases called "sprints" and release them in smaller iterations. Each build will be incremented according to the reporting feature. The sprints can be two to four weeks long, with the validation of the final product by the product owner at the end. The product will only be given to the customer if they have approved it. The model of today is very popular because it allows for rapid creation and deployment and the flexibility to adapt quickly to changing circumstances.
Read More: Brief Explanation of Software Development Life Cycle
Iterative or Incremental Model
The software must be divided into small pieces. You can, for example, build a feature, deploy and test it and then collect feedback. After this feature is completed, move on to the next. You can then release a complete product that includes all features. The process involves four stages - conception, elaboration, and constriction. This is best for additional applications with large scale.
Rapid Prototyping
This model involves creating prototypes before the final product. The prototypes are limited in their functionality and performance. Still, they're sufficient for gauging customer needs, collecting feedback, and improving the product. This involves gathering requirements, designing, prototyping, and evaluating prototypes by customers.
Spiral
SDLC spiral models include prototypes and iterative methods. The SDLC has four phases: planning, assessment of risk, development, and evaluation. Teams follow these in successive iterations to get the software that meets customer requirements and standards. This is the best option for big projects.
V-Model
The verification and Validation Model (V-Model) involves parallel development and testing phases. The model is similar to the Waterfall, but the planning for software and the testing begins earlier. The model has two components:
- Verification Phase: The verification phase includes the analysis of requirements, design, and coding.
- Validation Phase: This includes unit testing and integration testing, as well as system testing.
V-Model suits smaller projects that have clearly defined needs.
Big Bang Model
The model is not defined, and planning it cannot be easy. The team analyses and implements the needs as they arise, using resources as inputs, even though the final output may not meet the original requirements. It might be a good solution for smaller projects.
Lean Model
Lean Manufacturing Principles and Practices are the inspiration for lean methodologies. The lean methodology encourages teams to create better workflows and cultivate a culture for continuous improvement. The principles of the program are to reduce waste and make informed decisions, accelerate learning, deliver quicker, empower operations teams, and build with integrity.
SDLC Best Practices
- Use threat modeling to eliminate risk faster and update your security requirements.
- Iterate continuously to improve code by establishing safe design evaluation criteria with standardization.
- Choose only the most secure open-source component. To check for vulnerabilities, you can use an SCA or open-source code analysis tool.
- Code reviews are a great way to ensure code quality. Use a SAST program for this.
- Regularly monitoring and fixing problems will help you to create an effective incident management plan. Also, you can perform penetration tests.
- Automate your software development processes by using SDLC tools.
SDLC vs. ALM (Application Lifecycle Management)
ALM describes all aspects of the lifecycle management (ALM) process, including conception, design, implementation, testing, production, and support. SDLC is similar. On paper, they may look similar, but there are some important differences:
- SDLC is focused on the creation phase of the application, while ALM covers the whole lifecycle.
- To manage the different phases of an application, including development, it is necessary to use multiple ALM tools and processes.
- ALM may include multiple SDLCs that are part of an application product lifecycle.
SDLC vs. Systems Development Lifecycle
SDLC is sometimes used to describe the entire lifecycle of systems development, the planning and creation process for an IT system. The system is usually composed of multiple software and hardware components that work in concert to accomplish complex repetitive tasks. What's the Difference:
- SDLC is only concerned with the testing and development of software components
- The process of systems development encompasses all aspects, including the task management and setup of people, hardware, software, and processes required for an entire system.
- Systems development, which is not software development but a separate process from SDLC, can encompass tasks such as organizational training or change management.
SDLC vs. STLC (Software Testing Life Cycle)
You may have heard of the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC). STLC is a set of activities designed to ensure the quality of software by detecting defects and bugs before product release. The STLC has similar phases to the SDLC but different deliverables and objectives. SDLC and STLC have several important differences, including:
- STLC focuses on testing software, while SDLC focuses on development.
- STLC is concerned with ensuring that software products are bug-free, reliable, and meet user needs. SDLC focuses on building software that meets user requirements.
- STLC includes phases such as testing, planning, development of test cases, execution, and closure. SDLC is divided into phases such as design, planning, coding, and testing.
SDLC vs. PDLC (Product Development Lifecycle)
It is a process that covers all aspects of a product's lifecycle, starting with the idea and ending at its retirement. This includes planning, research on the market, design of the product, testing, and launch. There are several key differences between SDLC & PDLC:
- SDLC is a software development process, while PDLC is a product development process.
- SDLC consists mainly of planning, design, and coding phases. PDLC also includes phases such as product planning and market research.
- SDLC aims at user-friendly building software, whereas PDLC aims at creating a product that meets market requirements and creates revenue.
SDLC vs. SRLC (Software Release Lifecycle)
The life cycle of a software requirement involves obtaining, capturing, and verifying requirements. This includes gathering requirements from the stakeholders involved, prioritizing and analyzing them, documenting and validating their requirements in a specification, and documenting. There are several key differences between SDLC & SRLC:
- SDLC focuses on software development, while SRLC focuses on software requirements management.
- SDLC includes phases such as design, development, testing, and deployment. SRLC also has additional phases, such as analysis and validation of requirements, as well as an elicitation phase.
- SDLC is designed to create software that meets user needs. In contrast, SRLC ensures that software requirements are correct and complete before any development begins.
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Conclusion
SDLC is an integrated process that involves different phases in software development. The document outlines each of the phases - including analysis, development, deployment, and maintenance. Teams can meet customer expectations and produce high-quality custom software development faster and within budget by adhering to an SDLC.
