Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

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Software development life cycle (SDLC) is a structured process that is used to

design, develop, and test good-quality software. SDLC, or software development life
cycle, is a methodology that defines the entire procedure of software development step-
by-step.

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

The goal of the SDLC life cycle model is to deliver high-quality, maintainable software
that meets the user’s requirements. SDLC in software engineering models outlines the
plan for each stage so that each stage of the software development model can perform its
task efficiently to deliver the software at a low cost within a given time frame that meets
users’ requirements.

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Table of Content
 Full Form of SDLC
 What is Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?
 Stages of the Software Development Life Cycle Model
 Stage-1: Planning and Requirement Analysis
 Stage-2: Defining Requirements
 Stage-3: Designing Architecture
 Stage-4: Developing Product
 Stage-5: Product Testing and Integration
 Stage 6: Deployment and Maintenance of Products
 Software Development Life Cycle Models
 What is the need for SDLC?
 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC):
Full Form of SDLC
SDLC stands for Software Development Life Cycle.
What is Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?
SDLC is a process followed for software building within a software
organization. SDLC consists of a precise plan that describes how to develop, maintain,
replace, and enhance specific software. The life cycle defines a method for improving the
quality of software and the all-around development process.
Note: If you also want to learn Product Life cycle Please refer this. PLC – Product Life
Cycle

Stages of the Software Development Life Cycle

SDLC specifies the task(s) to be performed at various stages by a software engineer or
developer. It ensures that the end product is able to meet the customer’s expectations and
fits within the overall budget. Hence, it’s vital for a software developer to have prior
knowledge of this software development process.
 Stages of the Software Development Life Cycle Model SDLC

The SDLC model involves six phases or stages while developing any software. SDLC
is a collection of these six stages, and the stages of SDLC are as follows:
Stage-1: Planning and Requirement Analysis
Planning is a crucial step in everything, just as in software development. In this same
stage, requirement analysis is also performed by the developers of the organization. This
is attained from customer inputs, and sales department/market surveys.
The information from this analysis forms the building blocks of a basic project. The
quality of the project is a result of planning. Thus, in this stage, the basic project is
designed with all the available information.
 Stage-1 : Planning and Requirement Analysis

Stage-2: Defining Requirements

In this stage, all the requirements for the target software are specified. These
requirements get approval from customers, market analysts, and stakeholders.
This is fulfilled by utilizing SRS (Software Requirement Specification). This is a sort of
document that specifies all those things that need to be defined and created during the
entire project cycle.
 Stage-2 : Defining Requirements

Stage-3: Designing Architecture

SRS is a reference for software designers to come up with the best architecture for the
software. Hence, with the requirements defined in SRS, multiple designs for the product
architecture are present in the Design Document Specification (DDS).
This DDS is assessed by market analysts and stakeholders. After evaluating all the
possible factors, the most practical and logical design is chosen for development.
 Stage 3: Design

Stage-4: Developing Product

At this stage, the fundamental development of the product starts. For this, developers use
a specific programming code as per the design in the DDS. Hence, it is important for the
coders to follow the protocols set by the association. Conventional programming tools
like compilers, interpreters, debuggers, etc. are also put into use at this stage. Some
popular languages like C/C++, Python, Java, etc. are put into use as per the software
regulations.
 Stage 4: Development

Stage-5: Product Testing and Integration

After the development of the product, testing of the software is necessary to ensure its
smooth execution. Although, minimal testing is conducted at every stage of
SDLC. Therefore, at this stage, all the probable flaws are tracked, fixed, and retested.
This ensures that the product confronts the quality requirements of SRS.
Documentation, Training, and Support: Software documentation is an essential part of
the software development life cycle. A well-written document acts as a tool and means to
information repository necessary to know about software processes, functions, and
maintenance. Documentation also provides information about how to use the product.
Training in an attempt to improve the current or future employee performance by
increasing an employee’s ability to work through learning, usually by changing his
attitude and developing his skills and understanding.
 Stage 5: Testing

Stage 6: Deployment and Maintenance of Products

After detailed testing, the conclusive product is released in phases as per the
organization’s strategy. Then it is tested in a real industrial environment. It is important to
ensure its smooth performance. If it performs well, the organization sends out the product
as a whole. After retrieving beneficial feedback, the company releases it as it is or with
auxiliary improvements to make it further helpful for the customers. However, this alone
is not enough. Therefore, along with the deployment, the product’s supervision.
 Stage 6: Deployment and Maintenance

Software Development Life Cycle Models

To this day, we have more than 50 recognized SDLC models in use. But None of them is
perfect, and each brings its favourable aspects and disadvantages for a specific software
development project or a team.
In this article, We’ve listed the top five most popular SDLC models below.
1. Waterfall Model
It is the fundamental model of the software development life cycle. This is a very simple
model. The waterfall model is not in practice anymore, but it is the basis for all other
SDLC models. Because of its simple structure, the waterfall model is easier to use and
provides a tangible output. In the waterfall model, once a phase seems to be completed, it
cannot be changed, and due to this less flexible nature, the waterfall model is not in
practice anymore.
2. Agile Model
The agile model was mainly designed to adapt to changing requests quickly. The main
goal of the Agile model is to facilitate quick project completion. The agile model refers
to a group of development processes. These processes have some similar characteristics
but also possess certain subtle differences among themselves.
3. Iterative Model
In the iterative model, each cycle results in a semi-developed but deployable version;
with each cycle, some requirements are added to the software, and the final cycle results
in the software with the complete requirement specification.
4. Spiral Model
The spiral model is one of the most crucial SDLC models that provides support for risk
handling. It has various spirals in its diagrammatic representation; the number of spirals
depends upon the type of project. Each loop in the spiral structure indicates the Phases of
the Spiral model.
5. V-Shaped Model
The V-shaped model is executed in a sequential manner in V-shape. Each stage or phase
of this model is integrated with a testing phase. After every development phase, a testing
phase is associated with it, and the next phase will start once the previous phase is
completed, i.e., development & testing. It is also known as the verification or validation
model.
6. Big Bang Model
The Big Bang model in SDLC is a term used to describe an informal and unstructured
approach to software development, where there is no specific planning, documentation,
or well-defined phases.
What is the need for SDLC?
SDLC is a method, approach, or process that is followed by a software development
organization while developing any software. SDLC models were introduced to follow a
disciplined and systematic method while designing software. With the software
development life cycle, the process of software design is divided into small parts, which
makes the problem more understandable and easier to solve. SDLC comprises a detailed
description or step-by-step plan for designing, developing, testing, and maintaining the
software.
Follow the project Library Management System or E Portfolio Website to see the use of
Software Development Life Cycle in a Software Projects.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Software

Development Life Cycle (SDLC):
1. What is SDLC?
 Answer: SDLC, or Software Development Life Cycle, is a systematic process for
planning, creating, testing, deploying, and maintaining software. It provides a
framework for developers to produce high-quality software that meets user
expectations and project requirements.
2. What are the main phases of SDLC?
 Answer: The main phases of SDLC include Requirements, Design, Implementation
(Coding), Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance. These phases represent the stages a
software project goes through from initiation to completion.
3. Why is SDLC important?
 Answer: SDLC ensures a structured and organized approach to software
development, leading to the creation of reliable and high-quality software. It helps
manage resources efficiently, reduces development time, and minimizes the risk of
project failure.
4. What are the key objectives of SDLC?
 Answer: The key objectives of SDLC include delivering a high-quality product,
meeting customer requirements, managing project resources effectively, minimizing
risks, and providing a clear and transparent development process.
5. How does SDLC differ from Agile methodology?
 Answer: SDLC is a more traditional, sequential approach to software development,
while Agile is an iterative and flexible methodology. SDLC follows a structured path,
while Agile allows for incremental development with frequent reassessment and
adaptation.
6. What is the role of stakeholders in SDLC?
 Answer: Stakeholders, including clients, end-users, project managers, and
developers, play crucial roles throughout the SDLC. They contribute to requirements
gathering, provide feedback during development, and ensure that the final product
aligns with business objectives.
7. What are some common SDLC models?
 Answer: Common SDLC models include the Waterfall Model, Agile Model, Iterative
Model, Spiral Model, V-Model, and Rapid Application Development (RAD). Each
model has its own set of principles and best practices.
8. What is the purpose of the Testing phase in SDLC?
 Answer: The Testing phase ensures that the software meets specified requirements
and functions correctly. It includes various testing levels, such as unit testing,
integration testing, system testing, and user acceptance testing.
9. How does SDLC handle changes in project requirements?
 Answer: SDLC models like Agile are more adaptable to changes in project
requirements. Traditional models like Waterfall, however, can face challenges in
accommodating changes once a phase is completed. Change management processes
may be implemented to handle alterations effectively.
10. What is the role of documentation in SDLC?
 Answer: Documentation is critical in SDLC for recording project requirements,
design specifications, code, test cases, and user manuals. It provides a reference for
developers, testers, and stakeholders, ensuring transparency and facilitating future
maintenance and updates.
11. How does SDLC contribute to project management?
 Answer: SDLC provides a structured approach to project management by defining
phases, tasks, and deliverables. It assists project managers in planning, resource
allocation, risk management, and overall coordination to ensure the successful
completion of the software project.
12. Is SDLC only applicable to large-scale projects?
 Answer: No, SDLC principles can be applied to projects of any size. While large-
scale projects may require more extensive planning and documentation, smaller
projects can benefit from the structured approach of SDLC to ensure successful and
predictable outcomes.
13. What are some of the Software Development Ideas where we can find the
use of SDLC Models?
 Answer: Follow the Top 50 Software Development Project Ideas where you can
find the project in which we have used these models in detail.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we now know that Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) software
engineering is an important framework for the better and more structured
development of optimized software programs. In a world full of rapid evolution in
technology, SDLC phases plays a crucial role in enabling some good and innovative
solutions for helping users and organizations. Also, it’s better to adapt SDLC principles
to achieve software development goals effectively.

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