The Software Development Lifecycle: What it Means in 2022?

What is the Software Development Lifecycle?

Software Development Life Cycle is a methodology with clearly defined processes for creating high-quality software. It is the process utilized by enterprise software development companies to produce software that is high in quality with low cost and within the shortest possible time.   

The software development cycle provides a structured flow of phases that provides software development teams to rapidly develop quality software products that are well tested and ready for launch. However, not following the cycle can prove to be damaging for any development team.

Using SDLC simplifies the current phases of the development cycle. It helps to clearly define what resources are necessary for each phase and what direction your team must take for successful development. Every SDLC has several phases. The following six are the most common Software Development Life Cycle Phases – 

• Analysis:
  • This pre-development stage is dedicated to understanding the requirements and actions to be taken during development. At this SDLC cycle, all the bottlenecks and possible errors are identified. 

• Design:
  • It comprises the product’s interface elements such as layout, buttons, and other UI elements. 

• Development: 
  • The design elements of the software are implemented at this stage, along with the source code.

• Testing: 
  • This phase of product verification is conducted to identify any product script bugs and other failures. Such errors are then fixed and tested again. The software solution is tested several times during the software development cycle until it passes against the set benchmarks.

• Deployment: 
  • This is the go-to-market step where a software development company finally hands over the product to the client or opens it for sale in the market.

• Maintenance: 
  • The post-launch phase completes the full cycle of development. The phase aims to keep the solution functioning and update it per the latest technology stack requirements of the consumers and the market.

Benefits of the Software Development Lifecycle

• Appropriate Course for Project: 
• • Compare the outcomes of the organizations following the fly-by-night software development approach with those who have adapted themselves to the SDLC approach. The former always yields low-quality results.
  • Producing solutions without guidance from the SDLC process will always lead to escalated costs, delays in delivery, and the risk of not meeting the client’s expectations. Moreover, the biggest nightmare of the entire project failing may also become a reality. 

• Better Scope Management:
  • SDLC provides development teams with clear roadmaps for development. When developers have a clear development plan ready, the project’s scope management becomes much easier, and chances of developmental issues become much lesser. 
  • On the contrary, the teams which do not have a clear and fixed roadmap may suffer from low developer morale. It may affect the overall efficiency of the team and may cause production delays and low-quality work.

• Identification of Potential Problems in Advance: 
  • SDLC gives you the superpower of foresight. With Software Development Life Cycle tools, the development teams can identify any potential tools before they occur. Incorporating AI in software development has also significantly impacted the error management process. The AI tools identify the problems and tackle them without any human intervention. 

Software Development Lifecycle Methodologies

Based on the complexity and the type of project, different Software Development Life Cycle Models can be adopted. The SDLC methodologies can be described as adaptive or predictive. Each of the models is suitable to meet different production needs. 

• Waterfall SDLC Model: 
  • It is considered the oldest and the most rigid model for software development because it follows a linear sequential execution order. The framework follows the one-step-at-a-time approach from requirements gathering to maintenance. When the previous step is complete, it moves to the next stage.
  • It is best utilized when the requirements are well described and stable right from the beginning. It is also suitable for projects with a longer timeline.

• Iterative SDLC Model: 
  • The USP of this model allows for the initiation of the project development to begin without clearly specifying the overall project scope and action plan. Therefore to initiate any project, only functional requirements need to be called out. The model follows a cycle of phases of the SDLC development in a loop. Therefore, it gives a scope to the developers to enhance the software with every new version. The model should be deployed prudently, or it will lead to frequent unnecessary alterations draining the development resource.

• Spiral SDLC Model: 
  • The model splits the development process into small stages for the development teams to complete. This may, at times, lead to unnecessary waste of time and money if the project is new and the accomplished project does not require any documentation. The model may also be costly for low-risk projects.

• Agile SDLC Model: 
  • The Agile software development methodology is centered around communication and flexibility. The model is supported by the Agile manifesto and the agile principles and advocates for shorter cycles and gradual development and releases.

1. • As per a remotely study, Agile SDLC is used by 71% of the companies, while it has helped 98 % of them complete and enhance software development. As a result, the Agile methodology is currently the most used model in the software development industry.
   • The Agile system offers increased flexibility due to its central concept of product creation completed in small and short stages. Every phase of development in an Agile approach enables feedback from the development team and other stakeholders involved in the project. Such feedback loops include sprint planning, daily scrum, sprint review, and sprint retrospective.
   • Development in agile is carried out in “sprints,” which usually last about 2 – 4 weeks. The goal of each sprint is not only to build an MVP but also to build segments of software that the client can begin to use.

In Nutshell

Building software is a process which needs a well-defined goal, means to accomplish it and ways to measure, maintain and improve the results. The different methodologies and software development life cycle tools offered by SDLC provide all that. Depending on the situation and the requirement, a model or a tool can be chosen. This will ensure that the product at the end of the Software Development Life Cycle process is exactly what you want.

The global software market was valued at 429.59 billion in 2021. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 11.7% from 2022 to 2030. Therefore to be a part of the next two decades of success stories of software development enterprises, SDLC needs to be implemented in its full spirit. The choice of correct  methodology is very important. However, it depends upon the need and requirement of the project.