The SDLC is an ever-changing model of methodology that essentially boils down to building a high quality software in the least possible amount of time, using 7 specific phases. These phases may vary depending on your company or the software being developed, but down to its core it’s really the same thing
The 7 Stages of the Software Development Life Cycle
Planning
This stage involves thorough research into everything relating to the product and is arguably the most important stage of all. This is where you ensure you have sufficient people and funding for the project to even start.
Senior members of the team would sit down with the client and determine exactly what they need built, who the target market is, what the goal and purpose of the product is as well as all the data they need to understand it well enough to build it.
Requirements Analysis
When you have all the information you require to get started, it’s time to jot it down on paper for future reference. Here is where you can create an SRS (Software Requirements Specification) or technical specification. It will encompass all the technical requirements the product has for development to take place.
Ensure both the development team and the client go through this document and thoroughly understands each section, since this will serve as the backbone upon which the entire product is built.
Design
With the technical specification out of the way, it’s time to move on to the design specification. Here you will need to have another meeting with the client and ascertain from them how the product should look, what journey the user would take to get to where they want to be, and what audiences to appeal to.
Implementation/Development
The development stage is usually the longest phase in the process. Developers need to ensure they are on the same page in terms of the coding language necessary, as well as the compilers, interpreters, debuggers, etc. that they are meant to be using to implement the code.
They also need to ensure that communication within the team at this stage is accurate and efficient, since it would all eventually need to be communicated with the QA (quality assurance) testing team. The designers and developers will work closely together to ensure that they produce a functional, visually pleasing product that customers enjoy using.
Testing
During this phase, various methods of testing are employed to establish whether the app is usable, firstly, by the layman, someone who doesn’t know anything about what the app is for. It needs to be free of bugs, errors or issues. The flaws need to be rectified by the developers, and the testing continues.
Then they need to determine whether it is suitable for its target audience, easily navigable and understood. The app would also need to go through rigorous testing to confirm that those with visual impairments would be able to use it, such as those who are colour-blind.
Deployment
When all the kinks have been ironed out, the app is bug-free and easily usable by all the testers involved, it is ready to be rolled out to the market.
Maintenance/Improvement
There will always be work to be done on software, and this is the maintenance phase.
The skeleton crew is there to assess how the market reacts to the product once it’s been released, the feedback that is giving as well as reports on possible improvements that need to be made. Technology is ever-growing, and adding more features that will draw in more customers is always a good option.
