Introduction to Software Development
Software development is an integral part of every aspect of modern life. Software is used daily by individuals, businesses of all sizes, as well as startups. Enterprise software is undoubtedly the most successful industry in terms of growth. Even after the COVID-19 pandemic, software development is expected to continue to grow in 2024. According to Statista, the global expenditure on enterprise software development is expected to reach 700 billion dollars by 2024.
Software development refers to the process of designing and developing Software. Software is, as we all know and love, the core of technology that we use in our daily lives. Wikipedia states that software development refers to the creation and maintenance of applications, frameworks or other software components.
The Software can be classified according to its intended purpose. There are four types of Software: driver software, system software, program software and programming software.
Software Development Types
The core of the IT industry is software development. There are ten types of software development.
1. Application Development:
It's the process of creating a computer program, or a group of programs, to help businesses, users, and organizations use functionalities. These are standard applications that do traditional tasks on operating systems.
Application Development languages: Java, C/C++, C#, Python, etc.
2. Web Development
It's the process of creating a website that is accessible via the internet. Simple static web pages to sophisticated web applications are all examples of web development. Thousands of related pages are created during the web development process. This is a job for a web developer only.
Web Development Technologies HTML, Javascript and PHP. Ruby and Rails, ASP.NET and Django. C/C++.
3. Mobile App Development
It is also known as Mobile App Development. This involves creating an app that runs on mobile devices like iPhones or Android.
Mobile Development Technologies: Android, Swift, Objective C, HTML5, Java, C#, Javascript etc.
4. Data Analytics
Large quantities of data are used to feed machines, allowing them to make their own decision. Data scientists are here to help. Data scientists ensure that data is in the right format to be used in AI applications.
Data Science Technologies: MATLAB, Python, C/C++ etc.
5. Software Tools Development
This Software is used to develop tools that allow other software developers to test and code. This Software is used to help developers maintain industry standards in the development of their Software.
Tools Development Technologies: Java and Python, C++
6. API(Application Programming Interface), Development
API is the program developers create to link the various operating systems. APIs are designed for specific platforms. Each API contains the programming language for that particular platform or device.
7. Embedded Systems Development
This is the process of developing Software that is specific to a particular system your device or machine runs on. This is software development that focuses on the coding skills required for embedded systems such as Arduino and Raspberry Pi.
embedded System Technologies: Assembler and Python, Arduino, and Java
8. Security Software Development
Software is developed by the cyber security team to protect the company's valuable assets from viruses, theft, and other malicious attacks. Cyber security experts and white hat hackers work together to improve companies' security and protect their sensitive data.
9. Cloud Computing
Instead of using personal servers to store data or access services, cloud application development services use a network of remote servers. Developers of cloud computing software produce the code that drives cloud storage applications. Examples of cloud computing software include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Onedrive Storage, and Github.
Cloud Computing Technologies: Java. XML. R. Erlang. Google's Go. Clojure. And many more.
10. Database Development or Backend Development
Backend Development is what happens behind the scenes of the system. The data is stored on the server side of the website or backend.
Backend development is dominated by database management. For organizations with large amounts of data, it is the backbone. Backend developers organize and manage large amounts of data during the database consulting and development services.
Backend Development Technologies - Python and Java, C++, dBase, MySQL, and Oracle for the Database.
Software Development Life Cycle process allows companies to create software applications.
To provide a structured and organized approach to software engineering, the framework allows you to manage all aspects of software development. This ensures that each step is completed and that the product meets all requirements.
- High-Quality Software is possible with the SDLC: This covers the testing and quality control phases. This makes sure that the programme is flawless and meets all standards.
- Manage Costs and Risks: Using the SDLC, organizations can identify and manage risks early in development. This helps to reduce costs and minimize potential problems.
- Improve Communication and Collaboration With: All stakeholders, including customers, are guaranteed participation in the development process by the SDLC. This makes it easier to fulfill the requirements and desires of clients.
- Increase Efficiency and Productivity by Using Resources: The SDLC helps organizations optimize their resource usage and streamline development processes. This can improve productivity and efficiency.
- Increase your chances of a successful Project: An efficient and well-defined SDLC process can greatly increase your chances of success. It directs the software development team in an organized and effective manner in the direction of the desired outcome.
Software development can be made easier by the SDLC. It ensures that the final product meets all requirements and is delivered on time.
What Are The Phases of The Software Development Life cycle(SDLC)
Each Model in a life cycle is different. All models need to go through six development phases. These phases may be followed in a straight line by some models, while others may need to be revisited multiple times. These are the stages.
- Analyze the requirements
- Plan
- Solution architecture
- Software development
- It's worth it
- Deployment
Analyze the Requirements
In the early stage, the software developer will meet with clients to go over their expectations and plan. The Solutions Architect compiles data from each party. This includes customers, clients, salesmen, and industry professionals. Technical documentation and market research are often included in this phase.
Plan
Planning phase determines feasibility. This stage evaluates the practicalities of the Project and how they can be best implemented to meet its goals.
The development team will assess the resources required to satisfy the demands of the client. This includes the team's size and skill set.
Careful planning is necessary to steer clear of any potential software development project problems. The team will use contingency planning to deal with these problems.
Solutions Architecture
Following the definition of all requirements, the Solutions Architect will design the system. The system's architecture will lay the groundwork for the future. It will leverage frameworks and standards for best practices. Also, it will show how many apps will be connected to form a coherent system. In the system design, the function and goal of each module will be described.
Any project needs a system architecture as a guideline. It must be understood by clients and developers alike.
Software Development
Developers will take control when the plan has been accepted and turn the blueprint into an operating system. The team will use an established programming language to code the Design. They will adhere to best-practice guidelines to reduce errors.
You can do it!
Software testing and quality control are both part of the testing phase.
Software testing is the process of having testers or teams of testers try to "break" the system. This involves identifying bugs and identifying issues. Both manual and automated testing will be possible.
Functional testing must be completed, and software products specifications met. The source code quality must be maintained.
Deployment
It is ready to use once the product has been deployed. Some products may need to be tested before they are released for general use. User Acceptance testing may be required before advanced systems are made available to the public. They can then make sure the item lives up to their expectations.
After deployment, many SDLCs incorporate maintenance. This is a standard procedure in many projects. Upgrading and improving the system is crucial to keeping it in excellent shape.
Your system can be hosted on one of our private clouds or one of the public clouds like AWS or Azure. This subject will be covered at the planning stage, known as requirements gathering.
What Are The Most Popular Software Development Cycles?
These are the most popular SDLC.
Waterfall
The waterfall model is simple. The Project is built in six phases.
- Collecting your requirements
- Software design
- Implementation
- It's worth it
- Deployment
- Maintenance
The Waterfall is simple to operate and involves very few customers. You will receive the SoftwareSoftware after the Project is finished. The Waterfall can save money and offer precise progress statistics. If every condition for the result is satisfied, the waterfall project can be given fixed costs. Before work starts, it's crucial to have all the product documentation to make sure everyone is on the same page. Confusion during Design and construction will be avoided by doing this.
Risk comes from Waterfall's infrequent communication. If there are no interim inspections, clients might not be happy with the finished output. Due to its lengthy software development process and prolonged software development cycle, Waterfall cannot accommodate client modifications.
A waterfall is a great tool for companies who want to achieve their software goals quickly and within a budget.
Software development life cycle diagrams are diagrams that show the process of software development. Each SDLC model has a different approach, but the core phases and activities remain the same.
The waterfall model was the first SDLC model to be used. The linear sequential Model also goes by that name.
This Model demonstrates how the output from one phase becomes the input for the following step. The following step cannot be produced until the previous phase is finished.
- Gathering and analyzing requirements is the first step. After that, the System Design process can begin. The System Design process can use the SRS document produced during the Requirement phase as both an input and an output.
- Design is the process of creating documents that serve as input for the next phase. Coding and Implementation.
- The Implementation phase involves the finalization of the coding, and then the Software is used for the next phase: Testing.
- Code is carefully examined for flaws during the testing phase. A defect is recorded in the defect tracking programme once it has been rectified. The Software is ready to go live once bug logging, regression testing and retesting have been completed.
- Once the customer has signed off, the code is placed into production during the Deployment phase.
- Any issues in the production environment are to be resolved by developers.
The Waterfall Model's Benefits:
- The Waterfall model, which is simple and easy to comprehend, has all phases completed step-by-step.
- The deliverables for each phase are identified. This simplifies the Project and reduces complexity.
Waterfall model's Drawbacks:
- Waterfall is a long-term model that requires time. It cannot be used in short-term projects.
- Projects that require revisions or have ambiguous requirements should not use the waterfall methodology. In the analysis and requirement-gathering phases, this Model presumes that the requirement will be precisely defined. Changes made in these stages will lead to higher costs, as all required modifications will be made.
Read More: What is and How Important is Software Development Automation
2. V-Shaped Model
V - Model, also known as Validation & Validation Model. This Mode combines Verification and Validation. Both testing and development are performed simultaneously. V-Model and waterfall models look identical, except that testing and planning begin in the early stages.
- a) Verification Phase:
(i). Analyses
This phase gathers and analyzes all necessary information. Verification activities are used to verify that the requirements have been met.
(ii). System Design:
A system can be created once the requirements have been clarified. In a design file, the architecture and components of the product are drawn and documented.
(iii). High-Level Design:
High-level Design is the design/architecture for modules. It is the function of two modules.
(iv). Low-Level Design:
Low-level Design is the design/architecture of individual components.
(v). Coding:
This phase is for code development.
- b) Validation Phase:
(i). Unit Testing:
Unit testing uses unit test cases that were created during the Low-level phase. Unit testing is performed by the developer. This allows for early detection of defects and is performed on specific components.
(iii). Integration Testing:
Integration testing happens at the High-level Design stage. The technique of testing integrated modules is known as continuous integration testing. This is the duty of the tester.
(iii). System Testing:
System testing takes place during the System Design phase. This phase tests the whole system. This phase tests the entire system's functionality.
(iv). Acceptance Testing
A component of the requirement analysis step is acceptance testing. It is carried out in the customer's setting.
The Advantages Of The V Model:
- It's simple and easy to comprehend.
- V-models work well for smaller projects where requirements are clear and the Project freezes early.
- This systematic and organized approach produces high-quality products.
The Advantages of the V-Model -
- A V-shaped model is not recommended for ongoing projects.
- It would be too expensive to make a change at the end of the process.
Prototype Model :
A prototype model is a design constructed before the real programme is developed. Prototype models have limited functionality and poor performance compared to real Software. Dummy functions are used to build prototypes. This is a fantastic technique for learning about the needs of the client.
Before creating actual Software prototypes are created to collect consumer input. The client analyzes the prototype once more before any modifications are made. This keeps happening until the client accepts Model.
After gathering your requirements, you can construct the Fast Design and build the prototype.
The prototype is then changed in response to client comments and updated specifications. The prototype is then revised and given to the client for additional assessment. The demand is to develop the actual programme following the customer's approval of the prototype. We employ the Waterfall model for developing the Software.
Prototype Model Advantages:
- Because defects can be detected earlier, the prototype model is cheaper and takes less time.
- The evaluation phase allows for the identification of missing functionality and changes to requirements. This will allow for the creation of a refined prototype.
- Participation by the customer at the beginning helps reduce confusion and improve understanding of all functionality and lead to customer satisfaction.
The Advantages of Prototype Models:
- Every stage involves the customer. This allows customers to modify the final product's requirements, which can increase complexity and prolong the delivery of Software.
Spiral Model
The Spiral model employs both an iterative and prototype approach.
Iterations are used to follow the phases of the spiral Model. The phases of the SDLC are represented by the Model loops. In the innermost loop, analysis and requirement gathering are performed. This is the final loop after planning, risk analysis and development. Next comes Designing. This is followed by Implementation and, finally, Testing.
Spiral Model is made up of 4 phases:
- Plan
- Risk Analysis
- Engineering
- Evaluation
(i) Planning:
Requirements gathering is the first step in planning. This is where customers provide all the information needed, and it is documented. Next, you will need to create a software specification document.
(ii) Risk Analysis:
This is the phase where the best solution can be found for the risk involved. The prototype is then constructed.
Remote access to data can pose a risk because of the slow data access rate. This risk can be mitigated by a prototype data access system.
(iii) Engineering:
Once the risk analysis is complete, testing and coding can begin.
(iv) Evaluation:
The customer evaluates the system and plans for the next iteration.
The Spiral Model's Advantages:
- For risk analysis, the prototype models are extensively used.
- Any enhancements or modifications to the functionality can be made in the next version.
The Advantages of a Spiral Model:
- The spiral Model is best suited for large projects.
- It may be costly because of the number of iterations required, which can lead to long production times.
Iterative Incremental Model
The product is divided into smaller parts by iterative, incremental models.
The Example is a feature in this version. The programme is then run. Requirement analysis (Designing), coding, and coding are the four phases of each cycle. Iterations don't need to be carefully planned.
Each iteration is finished, and the finished result is given to the client for review. Customer input and the new feature will both be included in the following version.
The final product has all of the features which have been improved over time.
Incremental and Iterative Development Models:
- Phase of inception
- Phase of Elaboration
- Phase of Construction
- Transition Phase
(i). Inception Phase:
The Inception phase covers requirements and scope.
(ii). Elaboration Phase:
The functional architecture of the product is developed during this stage. Both functional and non-functional criteria are included here.
(iii). Construction Phase
The Construction phase is where the architecture is completed with code that can be deployed. It involves the analysis, Design, Implementation, and testing of functional requirements.
(iv). Transition Phase:
During the Transition Phase, the product is deployed to the Production environment.
The Advantages and Imperative Model:
- It is easy to change your requirements, and it costs nothing.
- Iterations are used to identify and analyze risks.
- Early detection is key.
- Because the product is broken down into smaller pieces, it is easier to manage.
Disadvantages Incremental ModelModel
- You must understand the requirements and build a product incrementally.
Big Bang Model
The Big Bang Model lacks a clear process. It is possible to create a product that satisfies the needs of the customer by combining money and effort.
The Big Bang Model doesn't need any scheduling or planning. The developer conducts a requirements analysis and codes the product by his knowledge. Large projects are not appropriate for this Model. Large projects shouldn't use this ModelModel, according to experts.
Advantages Big Bang Model:
- It's a simple model.
- You don't have to plan as much.
- Software developers have complete creative freedom.
The Big Bang Model's Detractors:
- Big Bang models do not work well for complex, long-term projects.
- High levels of uncertainty and risk
Agile Model
The agile development technique allows clients to modify their requests at any time during the development process. "Sprints" are shorter iterations of a project that have a set number.
Sprint cycles are:
- Plan
- Design
- Develop
- It's well worth it
- Install
- Review
This will be a big bonus for customers. The emphasis on iterative production highlights how agile teams can create outcomes rapidly. They can create a minimal product that satisfies all specifications.
Large projects with a history of change benefit greatly from agile's adaptability. This is especially helpful for Software that contains untried or experimental components. This enables project components to avoid failure as soon as possible with the least amount of expenditure or reliable buy-in.
The primary issue with Agile web development process is the cost. The waterfall model is more expensive than agile. Agile's dynamic nature makes it challenging to forecast costs and timelines. Customers might need to show more dedication and might not be able to participate in regular meetings or assessments.
This can prove costly for companies with limited projects or scope.
The Agile Model is a combination of the Iterative, Incremental and Combination models. This Model is more flexible when developing a product than in fulfilling a requirement.
A product is broken down into smaller, incremental builds via agile. A product cannot be created from anything. There are new features added to every build. You can take advantage of the features from the previous version to create the following build.
Agile iterations might be described as sprints. The duration of each sprint is two to four weeks. There are two to four weeks between each sprint. After each sprint, the product owner evaluates and approves it before it is sent to the customer.
Customer feedback is taken into account to improve the product. His recommendations and enhancements will be incorporated into the subsequent sprint. Each sprint is tested to lower the possibility of failure.
The Advantages Of The Agile Model:
- This gives you greater flexibility to adapt to changes.
- The new feature can be easily added.
- Customers feel satisfied when they provide feedback and offer suggestions at every stage.
Disadvantages:
- Inadequate documentation
- Agile requires skilled and experienced people.
- If the customer does not know what they want, the Project will fail.
Conclusion
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