The software development lifecycle (SDLC) is a process development teams use for most software projects. It involves the designing, development, testing, and deployment of software in a structured way. SDLC allows software to be created and released efficiently, reliably, and securely. Following the SDLC system can help a team of software engineers mitigate risks while maximizing the resources they have on their team.
Understanding the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
The overarching framework for SDLC is relevant across industries and applications, having been used in a number of new software projects. While there aren’t strict rules and steps that need to be followed, there are general suggestions and phases that might be applicable to your next software project. In the following sections, you’ll learn how the SDLC process works, some benefits, and real-world examples of SDLC in action.
Phases of the Software Development Lifecycle
In general, SDLC projects follow the same core phases, which make up the “lifecycle” of a software project. The entire lifecycle is scalable and customizable, meaning you can take a larger or smaller focus on each phase of the SDLC, depending on the project criteria. Here’s a closer look:
1. Planning and Requirement Analysis
Projects often begin with a planning and requirements phase. This is when stakeholders will define the scope, objective, and purpose of the new software. During this phase, you’ll likely develop a list of business needs and goals that will work as a guiding light for your project. In addition, you might start some feasibility studies and put together software requirement specifications (SRS) that detail functional and non-functional requirements.
2. System Design
Once you have a clear list of requirements, you can start the system design. This design phase involves creating architecture blueprints for the software and putting together technology stacks that can outline what languages, databases, and frameworks you’ll be using.
You might also have early conversations about user interfaces (UI) and user experience (UX) components you’d like to incorporate in future steps.
Another critical step during the system design is to put together a data flow diagram (DFD) to help the team visualize how data moves within the system.
3. Implementation (Coding)
During this phase, developers will start writing the actual software code based on conversations you had in previous phases. It’s essential that programmers use coding best practices to keep the quality up to par and make troubleshooting easier during future steps. If you have multiple programmers on your team, you should also consider peer reviewing the code and going through code reviews to make sure you meet whatever industry standards apply to your application.
4. Testing
The testing phase can be one of the most complex of SDLC. During this phase, you’ll go through unit, integration, and system testing to find bugs, optimize your software, and make sure you’re meeting the requirements of the project. Additionally, you should perform user acceptance tests (UAT) to make sure the end-user’s experience meets the UX goals you defined earlier.
5. Deployment
When testing is complete, your software is ready for deployment. This is often an exciting time in the office, and it starts with a staging environment so you can do final verification. Next, you’ll roll out the software for end-user access and check for issues that might pop up after deploying.
Once the software is rolled out, your target audience can start using the software on their own. They might reach out for support or report bugs, which is why continued maintenance and support (the next phase) is so important.
6. Maintenance and Support
It might be tempting to finish the project after phase five, but this next phase is a vital step. This happens after deployment, and it involves bug fixes and patches to address post-release issues and bugs that your team didn’t catch before.
Over time, you should also roll out new software updates and performance optimization to help the end-user while improving the functionality of your software.
SDLC Methodologies
The SDLC workflow involves numerous methodologies to guide how software is developed, tested, and deployed. These models and methods don’t change the phases that are followed, but they can change how the phases are progressed through. Typically, different companies will use different SDLC methodologies based on their development team and the goals for their software. Generally speaking, using the right SDLC methodology can help a project run smoothly and avoid some common pitfalls.
Waterfall Model
The Waterfall model follows a sequential approach. This involves finishing one phase before moving to the next; it’s easy to follow and fairly intuitive by nature. This is a solid option for projects that have well-defined requirements.
Waterfall is also a good model for smaller teams that might have the same people doing multiple phases. Using this linear model, teams can ensure that their resources are always available to work on the current phase.
Agile Methodology
Agile models have experienced recent popularity since this method emphasizes flexibility and collaboration. Using Scrum or Kanban breaks software development into smaller pieces that can allow the software to continually improve as you step through the phases.
DevOps Approach
DevOps strikes a balance between software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops). Together, the added collaboration can streamline the development and deployment of software. DevOps approaches tend to use more automation, continuous integration (CI), and continuous deployment (CD) to progress the project.
Other SDLC Models
Other SDLC models worth noting include:
- Spiral Model is a risk-driven approach that involves multiple iterations before final deployment.
- V-Model does multiple phases at once to save time, usually lumping together testing and development at the same time.
- Rapid Application Development (RAD) uses quick prototyping and user feedback to quickly move through the SDLC phases. This is very common for smaller and lighter-duty software that doesn’t anticipate a massive user base in the end.
Benefits of Using SDLC
Many companies that opt for SDLC notice several major benefits:
- Structured development process – The added structure makes every stage clear and comes with a tangible list of deliverables. This helps everyone on the team understand their role and what the final goals are.
- Risk management – By having early conversations and looking toward the future in each project, SDLC can help spot potential risks early and put together mitigation efforts to avoid wasting time or money in future phases.
- Quality assurance – Because there is a focus on testing, projects that leverage SDLC often come with better levels of reliability.
- Cost efficiency – With the forecasting and division of labor, SDLC can help you save money on each project. It also helps minimize errors and make the most out of your available resources.
- Scalability and maintenance – Another major benefit is the fact that SDLC includes post-deployment maintenance and service to keep your software running smoothly. In addition, the SDLC framework will work for companies with anywhere from a dozen employees to a thousand employees — creating a scalable solution to your software development.
Real-World Applications of SDLC
As mentioned, SDLC is used widely across industries and purposes. Some real-world applications of SDLC include:
- Enterprise software development – Perhaps the most common example, large organizations use SDLC to create their enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. With larger development teams, the added structure of SDLC ensures that the program progresses forward while maximizing the performance of their team.
- Healthcare systems – Healthcare companies will use SDLC to make sure the software is compliant with regulations like HIPAA to keep patient data secure, thanks to the added testing and maintenance steps.
- Financial services – Financial institutions and banks put together secure payment processing and fraud detection systems using SDLC. They ensure that security is prioritized during each phase of the creation and deployment of software.
- E-commerce platforms – Online retailers put together scalable shopping platforms and personalized recommendation engines using SDLC, since each phase is generally applicable to a variety of industries. This allows retailers to optimize their online software without major issues.
Final Thoughts
Understanding how the software development lifecycle works is a critical step when it comes to creating software. Modern software engineers and developers use this system on a daily basis. By following the best practices and methodologies outlined for SDLC, companies can continue to create high-quality, reliable, efficient, and secure software solutions that meet the specific needs of their industry. It also adds the benefit of focusing on the user experience, ensuring that the software is ultimately well-received.
Earn Your Software Development Degree Online
Want to launch a career in software development? You might consider furthering your knowledge by pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Software Development. At Champlain College Online, our program is designed to give you hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of SDLC principles, applications, methodologies, and best practices — so you can design software and development projects with confidence.
You can learn more by contacting admissions today to get started with your online degree and advance your career in software development.
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