Tweet SDLC: Software Development Lifecycle or System Development Life Cycle

The (SDLC) Software Development Lifecycle or System Development Life Cycle is the process of creating, altering the product or system. This term is mainly used in Software Engineering and Information Systems. There are several methods and models exists, that people use these to develop a software product.

A Software Development Life Cycle has series of Phases...(as shown in diagram)

1) Requirements Collection
2) Analysis / Feasibility Study
3) Planning
4) Designing
5) Coding / Development
6) Testing
7) Implementation
8) Maintenance

Requirements Collection:

The requirements are given by the customer to the Business Analyst or the Domain Expert. The specific requirements of the software to be built are gathered and documented.

Analysis / Feasibility Study:

It is always important to ensure that the right requirements are captured at every stage. The requirements get documented in the form of (SRS) System Requirements Specification document. This document acts as a bridge between the Customer and the Development Company to build the product.

Planning:

The Planning explains "How the requirements can be satisfied?". The things addressed here are:

• What will be met?What will not be met?
• How to use the resource effectively?
• What are all the Constraints?
• What are all the Alternatives?
• Identify the risks and resolve the risks etc.,

Designing:

In the Designing phase a representation is generated, which will be used by the following phase(Development Phase). Designing is done in two levels.(as shown in diagram)

Coding / Development:

Here, in this phase the development team will choose the programming language and produces the product that meets the requirements given by the Customer.

Testing:

Here we'll test whether the product is developed as per the Requirements Specification or not.

Definition:
Testing is the process of exercising whether the product Exhibits the expected behavior or not. In other words we'll chech whether the behavior is same as the one expected.

Deployment and Maintenance:

Once the product is tested, it is give to the Customer. The deplayment / implementation can be done by the Customer in his environment. If any discrepancies are found then the product enters the Maintenance Phase.

Product Maintenance consists of the following:

• Corrective Maintenance
• Adaptive Maintenance
• Preventive Maintenance