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What is the Software Development Life Cycle?

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The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a structure that clearly lays out the steps required in software development at each stage. It contains a complete blueprint for creating, deploying, and supporting software.

The Software Development Life Cycle has seven stages.


The current system development life cycle is divided into seven parts. Here’s a quick rundown:

  1. Stage of Planning
  2. Stage of Feasibility or Requirements
  3. Stage of designing and prototyping
  4. Stage of Software Development
  5. Stage of Software Testing
  6. Integration and Implementation
  7. Stage of Operations and Maintenance

Stage 1:  Planning


Before we get to the planning stage, the best advice we can give you is to take your time and learn everything there is to know about the software development life cycle.

The planning stage (also known as the feasibility stage) is exactly what it looks like: it’s the time when developers start thinking about the next project. It aids in the description of the problem and scope of any current systems, as well as the determination of the new systems’ objectives. They’ll theoretically discover issues before they hinder development by creating an effective blueprint for the following development cycle and assisting them in obtaining the cash and resources they require to carry out their plan.
Perhaps the most crucially, the planning stage establishes the project timetable, which is critical if the product is being developed for a commercial entity that must be released by a specific date.

Stage 2:  Analysis Stage Feasibility or Requirements


Following the requirement analysis, the following step is to clearly define and document the software requirements, as well as gain acceptance from stakeholder groups.
This is performed using the “SRS”-Software Requirement Specifications, which covers all of the quality standards that must be built and developed throughout the project life cycle.

Stage 3: Designing and prototyping

The design stage is required before moving on to the primary developmental stage. Developers will begin by outlining the overall application’s characteristics, as well as individual aspects such as:

  • Interactions with users
  • Interfaces with the system
  • Network needs and requirements for networks
  • Databases

They’ll usually convert the SRS document into a more structured way that can be applied in a computer language later. Developers will be given more operating, education, and planned maintenance so that they know everything they need to do at each point of the cycle clearly moving forward.

When the project is finished, development managers will create a design document that will be used throughout the SDLC.

Stage 4: Software Development

The system and software design documents are prepared in this third phase, according to the requirements specification. This aids in the definition of the overall architecture. This design step is used as information for the model’s following phase.

During this phase, two types of design documentation are created:

  • Design at a High Level (HLD)
  • Design at a Low Level (LLD)

Stage 5: Software Testing

The actual development and programming begin at this level of the SDLC. Writing code is the first step in putting a design into action. Developers must adhere to their top management coding rules, and programming tools such as compilers, interpreters, and debuggers are being used to write and test the code.

Stage 6: Integration and Implementation

Following testing, the overall design of the software will be completed. Through programmer efforts, various modules or designs will be integrated into the main source code, typically by leveraging training environments to detect additional errors or defects. The data system can be integrated and ultimately assembled into its environment. After passing this stage, the software is technically marketed-ready and can be distributed to any end-user.

Stage 7: Operations and Maintenance

The SDLC does not end when the software is released to the public. Developers must now enter maintenance mode and begin practising any procedures necessary to address issues identified by end users. Developers are also in charge of making any updates to the program which may be required after it has been deployed. This can involve resolving new issues that arise as a result of user reviews or dealing with leftover flaws which were not able to be fixed before launch. When compared to simple systems, complex systems may require more maintenance phases.

Software Development Best Practices

Aside from the designs and stages of software development, there are a few other practices that can be beneficial. These can be applied to a portion of the entire development cycle.

• Controlling the source

 Control is a plan to keep your working code safe. Keep the code in a single area with protected and logged access to implement Source Control. This could be a physical location in the building where files are stored and accessed in a single room. It could also be a virtual place where users can access to a cloud-based development environment over an encrypted connection. A change management system is included in the Source Control software to track work done by individuals or teams.Use a backup system to capture development progress in the event of a disaster, just as you would with any other storage.

• Continuous Integration

A case of what not to do led to Continuous Integration. CI ensures that each component is compatible throughout the development process. Prior to CI, different teams would work on their own projects. When it came time to put the application together, this posed considerable issues. Continuous Integration assures that all teams use the same programming languages and libraries, reducing disputes and duplication of effort.

• Management Systems for the SDLC

Each phase of the software development cycle is controlled and managed by a software development cycle management system. Each phase, as well as the entire project, benefits management systems. They also include systems for analytics, bug tracking, and task management.

Conclusion:


Finally, including system development life cycles into projects can assist any development team in any industry, including IT. For the greatest outcomes, use the following information to determine which technique you wish to apply in conjunction with your SDLC.