Communicated Content – The creation of any software includes the same crucial steps. This framework includes designing, coding, deploying, and maintaining the digital product. High-quality software requires the successful completion of each phase. Learn about the complete cycle of development and four common models in our article.
Why Follow the Cycle
The goal of any software project is to deliver a product that meets the requirements of the customer and the needs of their target audience. The software development company must work systematically. Disorganization can lead to failure, as all members of the team must work in unison. For example, if one of the developers decides to code first, while the others want to start from design or documentation, the project is doomed.
The Phases
Work on any project begins with thorough research, as the team must understand the requirements of the customer, and the specifics of their niche and the end-user. Here is how the process is organized.
1. Requirement Gathering and Analysis
During this initial stage, the team collects the information it needs to create a product meets the customer’s requirements and expectations. Some ambiguities are still acceptable, but they must be resolved before proceeding further.
The project manager and business analyst arrange a meeting with the customer to negotiate the conditions. They gather information concerning their vision of the product, the target users, and the purpose. All of these elements must be researched to ensure a successful outcome.
For instance, if the customer wants to develop a fintech app for money transfers, they should specify the type of transactions to integrate, the currency, the procedures, etc. After the data is gathered, it is analyzed to check the feasibility of the project. The team develops a Software Requirement Specification document, which is reviewed and approved by the customer.
2. Design
Based on the SRS document, the team works on the software architecture. They create a blueprint for developers containing the layout and any visual elements that must be included in the product.
3. Implementation or Coding
Based on the Design document, the development team gets down to work. While designers may be compared to architects in the construction of buildings, developers are the builders. They craft the source code as the foundation for the software. All the components are implemented at this stage.
4. Testing
The modules created by the developers are thoroughly tested to reveal any defects and fix them. Testing is iterated until the software is perfectly aligned with the customer’s vision. Retesting and regression testing strategies are both applied. To check that the software is up to scratch, the team refers to the SRS document.
5. Deployment
Now, the product is ready for the first UAT (User Acceptance testing). Alternatively, it may be deployed directly in the production environment. This depends on the strategy chosen by the customer. In the first case, the team creates a replica of the environment, and testing is performed with the customer’s participation. After approval, the application can go live.
6. Maintenance
Deployment of the software is not the final stage, as the team must ensure that it runs properly afterward. If any issues or defects emerge, they must be eliminated quickly. The developers take care of any necessary enhancements.
Development Life Cycle Models
The models of the cycle are its descriptive representations. Despite their differences, they are built on the same fundamental principles. Here are four of the most common models of software development in 2021.
1. Waterfall (Linear Sequential) Model
As the term suggests, this model is based on a linear sequence of phases. The result of each stage is the output for the subsequent one. A phase cannot start until the previous one has been completed.
2. V-Shaped (Verification and Validation) Model
In this scenario, development and testing are completed simultaneously. Each of the phases is followed by testing. Find out the mode in this detailed guide.
3. Prototype Model
This model requires the creation of a prototype before the actual software is built. This raw system has limited functional capabilities, and it is less powerful than the final product. Prototypes are based on dummy functions.
4. Spiral Model
This model is based on iterations and prototypes. It includes loops representing the phases in the development process. The innermost loop is gathering and analysis of requirements, and the final loop represents reviewing and planning of the subsequent stage.
