What is Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). How SDLC is useful for software development and management.

What is SDLC?

SDLC stands for Software Development Life Cycle or System Development Life Cycle. SDLC helps to develop the application in a planned and systematic fashion. There are many models available like Waterfall Model, V Model, Spiral Model etc. are used to develop the application. SDLC is also similar kind of technique to develop the application in systematic way by following few steps. In SDLC, software development followed by completing each phase and move to the next phase. There are two types of SDLC approach – One is Waterfall and another is Agile. Agile SDLC is quite new and more popular now a days, however Waterfall SDLC is traditional method of software development strategy.

Phases in SDLC model:

• Requirements
• Analysis
• Design
• Implementation
• Testing
• Deployment
• Maintenance

Requirements: This is the first phase of development where all the requirements gathered and documented.

Analysis: In this phase we analyze all the gathered requirements whether the requirements are valid or invalid.

Design: In this phase all the system design is analyzed and specified like hardware, system configuration and architecture or the system.

Implementation: In this phase all the development works are performed and development components or units handed over to testing team.

Testing: Once the development completed, testing phase starts and in this phase we test the each unit or component and make sure the developed components are working as expected. All the testing activities are performed in this phase.

Deployment: Once testing is completed and make sure there is no bug or defect or any kind of issue, then project is deployed to production. Once product is deployed to production the end users start using the product.

Maintenance: We always keep eye on the product and provide all the necessary bug or issue fixes if occurs in production or reported by end users. Also time to time we keep updated the product with new updates or patches if developed or available.

Why to use SDLC methodology?

• Cost effective.
• Better management of the project.
• Delivery of high quality product.
• Time and resource management.