Software Development Life Cycle SDLC - Phase by Phase

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC Life Cycle)

SDLC Life cycle is the process of creating a software development structure. There are different stages in the SDLC, and each stage has its own different activities. It enables development teams to design, create and deliver high-quality products.

The requirement is transformed into the design, design is transformed into development, and development is transformed into testing; after testing, it is provided to the client.

The phases of SDLC life cycle are Requirement Phase, Design Phase, Implementation Phase, Testing Phase, Deployment/ Deliver Phase, Maintenance.

1. Requirement Phase

For development teams and project managers, this is the most critical stage in the software development life cycle. At this stage, the customer states requirements, specifications, expectations, and any other special requirements related to the product or software. All of these are collected by the business manager or project manager or analyst of the service provider company.

The requirements include how to use the product and who will use the product to determine the operating load. All the information collected from this stage is essential for developing products according to customer requirements.

2. Design Phase

The design phase includes a detailed analysis of the new software according to the requirements phase. This is a high-priority stage in the system development life cycle because the logical design of the system has been converted to a physical design. The output of the requirements phase is a collection of what is needed, and the design phase provides a way to achieve these requirements. 

At this stage, all necessary tools will be determined, such as Java, .NET, PHP and other programming languages, Oracle, MySQL and other databases, a combination of hardware and software to provide a software that can run on it without any problems Platform.

There are several techniques and tools, such as data flow diagrams, flowcharts, decision tables and decision trees, data dictionaries and structured dictionaries for describing system design.

3. Implementation Phase

After successfully completing the requirements and design phases, the next step is to implement the design into the development of the software system. In this phase, the work is divided into small parts, and the development team starts coding according to the design discussed in the previous phase and according to the customer’s needs discussed in the requirements phase to produce the desired result.

Front-end developers develop easy-to-use and attractive GUIs and necessary interfaces for interaction with back-end operations, and back-end developers perform back-end coding according to the required operations. All operations are carried out in accordance with the procedures and guidelines demonstrated by the project manager.

Since this is the coding phase, it takes the longest time and more targeted methods for developers in the software development life cycle.

 

4. Testing Phase

Testing is the last step to complete the software system. In this phase, after obtaining the developed GUI and back-end combination, it will be tested according to the requirements described in the requirements phase. The test determines whether the software actually gives results based on the requirements raised in the requirements phase. The development team made a test plan to start the test. 

The test plan includes all types of basic tests, such as integration tests, unit tests, acceptance tests, and system tests. Non-functional testing will also be performed at this stage.

If there are any defects in the software or fail to work as expected, the testing team will provide detailed information about the problem to the development team. 

If it is a valid defect or worthy of the resolution, it is repaired, the development team replaces it with a new defect, and verification is also required.

5. Deployment/ Deliver Phase

When the software test is completed and satisfactory results are obtained, and there are no remaining problems in the work of the software, the software will be delivered to the customer for use. After the customer receives the product, it is recommended that they conduct a Beta test (acceptance test) first. 

In the Beta test, customers can request any changes mentioned in the documentation that are not present in the software or make any other GUI changes to make it more user-friendly. In addition, if a customer encounters any type of defect while using the software; it will be notified to the development team of that particular software to solve the problem. 

If this is a serious problem, the development team will solve it in a short time; otherwise, if it is not too serious, it will wait for the next version. After all types of errors and changes were resolved, the software was finally deployed to the end-user.

6. Maintenance

The maintenance phase is the last persistent phase of the SDLC because it continues until the end of the software life cycle. When customers start to use the software, real problems arise, and these problems need to be resolved at that time. 

This stage also includes changes to the hardware and software to maintain its operational efficiency, such as improving its performance, enhancing safety functions, and proceeding in the coming time according to customer needs. 

This process of taking care of the product from time to time is called maintenance.

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) model

There are various software development models or methods:

• Waterfall model
• Spiral model
• Verification and validation model
• Prototype model
• Hybrid model

Waterfall model

This is the first sequential linear model because the output of one stage is the input of the next stage. It is easy to understand and is used for a small project.

The stages of the waterfall model are as follows:

• Requirement analysis
• Feasibility study
• Design
• Coding
• Testing
• Installation
• Maintenance

Spiral model

It is the best kit model for intermediate projects. It is also called loop and iterative model. As long as the modules depend on each other, we use this model. Here, we wisely develop the application model and then hand it over to the customer. The different stages of the spiral model are as follows:

• Demand collection
• Design
• Coding
• Test

Prototype model

From the time when the customer rejection rate was high in the early model, we chose this model because the customer rejection rate decreased. Moreover, it also allows us to prepare a sample (prototype) in the early stages of the process, we can show the sample (prototype) to the customer and get their approval, and then start working on the original project. 

The model refers to the operation of creating an application prototype. 

Verification and validation model

It is an extended version of the waterfall model. It will be implemented in two phases. In the first phase, we will perform the verification process, and when the application is ready, we will perform the verification process. 

In this model, the realization takes place in a V shape, which means the verification process is completed in the downward flow and the verification process is completed in the upward flow.

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