SDLC: how does the software development life cycle work?

To successfully develop quality software, it is necessary to set clear goals and specific steps of the software solution. The Software Development Life Cycle or (SDLC) can help you do just that. In this article, we will give you an overview of the software development life cycle process, its methodology and benefits, and explain the difference between SDLC, STLC and SSDLC.

SDLC definition: Software Development Life Cycle refers to the process of defining the goals and phases that lead to the creation of a software solution, while ensuring flexible, functional, and reliable software that meets the customer’s needs. This model can be seen as a pictorial and diagrammatic representation of the software development lifecycle, covering all the steps and activities from inception to completion.

How the SDLC works and the SDLC phases

Before the development team starts building a software solution, they define the key tasks and arrange them in a logical order. In this regard, the SDLC process provides significant benefits to developers by facilitating, streamlining, and organizing this process through its phases with specifically defined tasks.

The Software Development Life Cycle consists of seven phases, and it is essential to complete all of them to ensure complete customer satisfaction and to meet all of their requirements and expectations. The SDLC describes both the entry and exit criteria for each phase that must be met before moving on to the next phase.

1. Accurate planning is essential

A critical phase of the software lifecycle is planning, which occurs to some extent at every stage. The first step is to identify common and significant problems and potential customer risks so that they can be avoided. Planning helps to define the purpose, scope, cost and schedule of a particular project, including the composition of the project team. By defining every aspect of the software development process, it also reduces the risk of errors during development.

2. Requirements analysis

Once the objectives have been set and the project schedule has been planned, the next step is to analyse the customer’s software requirements, which are then written down in a Software Requirement Specification document. This is a critical phase for the development team. Based on the information provided, the team creates a roadmap of the features that need to be included in the software to achieve the desired results and meet all the criteria.

3. Software design

In the third phase, developers work on the software concept and how it will work. This phase of the SDLC includes the overall design, user interface, choice of platforms and programming languages, or security options. The design process results in a first sample version of the software, which allows customers to see how the product will look and behave when used. This prototype can also be modified based on customer feedback prior to development, saving time, money and effort for developers.

4. Software solution development

The longest phase in terms of time is the software development phase, during which the development team focuses on coding. Whether you choose to code in Java or any other programming language, you will need to follow pre-approved specifications from the client to ensure that all expectations and requirements of the product are met.

5. Software testing

After planning, the second most important phase in the software development life cycle is testing. Thanks to testing, all errors, issues and shortcomings can be detected before the software is handed over to the customer and released to the market. In this way, software testing helps to minimize the number of bugs in the software, which has a positive impact on the overall user experience.

6. Deployment

The final stage of development is to deploy the software and make it available to end users. In addition to the development team and the customer, the software solution can also be tried and tested by the users themselves, who will form an opinion about the product and its manufacturer or provider based on their first user experience.

7. Regular maintenance

In order to keep the software solution up-to-date, functional and bug-free, the software needs to be regularly updated and upgraded, even after it has been deployed. This not only ensures that its functionality is extended, but also that any bugs and shortcomings discovered by users after release are corrected promptly.

SDLC methodology

In the context of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodology, let’s introduce some basic SDLC methodologies that can achieve fast and effective results in software development:

• The Waterfall model is the oldest structured SDLC methodology, based on moving from one phase to the next after its completion. Although this SDLC model is easy to understand, its disadvantage is its lack of flexibility.
• The Iterative model is based on repeated testing, evaluation, and redefinition of requirements. The result of each iteration is a new version of the software.
• The Spiral model is one of the most flexible SDLC methods and is based on the Iterative model. In this model, the phases of planning, risk analysis, development and evaluation are repeated until the product is complete.
• The Agile model involves the continuous release of new software versions with small changes compared to the previous release. Thanks to the agile model, developers are able to identify and address minor issues immediately, while also receiving feedback from the customer.
• The DevOps model, a relatively new SDLC methodology, is based on the principle of collaboration between development and operations teams with the aim of speeding up the process of developing and deploying software solutions and features.

Advantages of the SDLC Software Development Life Cycle

Thanks to the Software Development Life Cycle, it is possible to systematically organize the work process and keep track of all defined tasks and deadlines. The customer is always informed about the status of the software development and any changes. In turn, the SDLC helps the development team to meet all customer requirements and expectations without exceeding the predefined budget. The developers know what their goal is and how to achieve it. In a sense, it can be seen as a manual for everyone involved in the development of a software solution.

SDLC vs STLC

While the SDLC defines all the phases of software development, the STLC or Software Testing Life Cycle represents the software testing process and focuses on improving the quality of an existing product. Instead of a development team and code development, in the software testing lifecycle, the test team creates a test plan, prepares the test environment, and performs software testing to uncover potential bugs and defects. We distinguish five phases of STLC, namely:

• Requirement analysis
• Planing
• Test development
• Test environment preparation and setup
• Test execution and closure

SDLC vs SSDLC

The Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC) differs from the SDLC in that it focuses solely on security at all stages of the software life cycle. As well as developing a software solution, the SSDLC skilfully applies security requirements and best practices and secures the development environment, helping to protect the software without delaying the development itself.

Come code to msg life!

If you are looking for an efficient and proven way to build quality software and ensure its smooth and systematic development, the SDLC model is the right choice for you and your team. If you want to take your programming skills to a higher level than programming for beginners, here at msg life Slovakia the doors are open for everyone. Both a Java developer junior and an experienced Java developer senior will find employment with us.

In return, you will receive an above-average developer salary, the opportunity for career progression, and great employee benefits. Join our development team and enjoy the benefits of a software developer job. Take a look at our job offers, send us your CV and become part of our market leading IT company!