The 7 stages of software development and how to adapt them to your project

The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a method for developing products that fulfill technical specifications and user needs. It consists of various phases. Today's article will present you with the 7 stages of software development and how to adapt and grow your business by following each of them.

The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) may be characterized as a framework that presents the whole software development process in the form of phases. Furthermore, it has a pre-defined framework that helps create, deploy, and maintain any software. Therefore this structure must be followed by an organization's development team while producing a software module. The SDLC approach focuses on the phases of software development as follows:

1. Analysis and planning

2. Study of feasibility

3. Design

4. Coding and development of software

5. Testing

6. Deployment

7. Maintenance

The 7 stages of software development

SDLC is an approach for enhancing software quality and the whole development process since it has a pre-defined strategy for building, maintaining, and replacing any specific program. It's also referred to as the Software Development Process.

Let’s go through the stages of the Software development life cycle:

1. Analysis and planning

The most important aspects of software development, client’s requirement collecting and analysis, are usually handled by the organization's most competent and experienced software engineers. After the customer's requirements have been gathered, a degree record is created in which the project's scope is established.

The team calculates the cost and resources needed to implement the assessed requirements at this level of the SDLC. It also outlines the threats that are involved, as well as sub-plans for mitigating those risks.

In other words, the team should assess the project's viability and identify how to implement it successfully while minimizing risk.

2. The study of the feasibility

After the specifics of the program have been settled upon, a feasibility study must be conducted to assess the software's viability. All of the prerequisites and components that are necessary for the completed piece of software to operate will be stated here.

A feasibility study is one of the most important steps in software development. It can provide insight on whether or not a project will be successful and if so, how much time it might take to complete.
An outside consultant can do the feasibility study, but this method is expensive and time-consuming. Using AI tools for this step would save companies money and time since they don't have to pay an outside consultant or spend hours creating a report themselves.

3. Design

The Design phase simulates the behavior of a software program. The following are some of the design elements:

- Programming language, industry norms, general design, and use of any templates or boilerplate are all examples of architecture.

- User Interface (UI) - Defines how customers interact with software and how it responds to input.

- Platforms - These are the operating systems that the program will operate on, such as Apple, Android, Windows, Linux, and even game consoles.

- Programming - This term encompasses the programming language and the methods for solving issues and carrying out duties in the application.

- Communications - Defines how the app may connect with other assets, such as a central server or other instances of the app.

- Security - Defines the steps used to keep the app safe, such as SSL traffic encryption, password protection, and secure user credential storage.

4. Coding and development of software

The process of converting a system's design into a computer language format is known as coding. The software translation of design specifications into source code is the focus of this coding phase of software development. Source code and internal documentation must be written such that the code's conformity to its specifications can be easily tested

Coding Objectives:

- To translate a system's design into a computer language format: The process of converting a system's design into a computer language format that can be performed by a computer and accomplish duties as defined by the design of operation during the design phase is known as coding.

- To cut the cost of subsequent phases: With effective code, the cost of testing and maintenance may be considerably reduced.

- Increasing the readability of the program: The program should be simple to read and comprehend. It improves code comprehension by making readability and understandability an explicit goal of the development process. This can lead to better maintainable software. Developers will follow the organization's coding requirements and use various tools such as compilers, debuggers, and interpreters.

C++, PHP, and other programming languages are examples of common programming languages. Based on the project specs and needs, developers will select the appropriate programming code.

Your team will need to record the coding and development process as it occurs so that they can recall how the program was created and why each choice was taken.

Also, don’t forget to apply the [best practices for web development]https://mcro.tech/blog/best-practices-web-development/() whenever you code an app for the web!

5. Testing

Developers will go through their software with a fine-tooth comb during the testing stage, identifying any problems or defects that need to be recorded, repaired, and retested.

Each function should be tested to ensure that it functions properly. Different sections of the program should also be evaluated to ensure that they operate together seamlessly—performance testing to eliminate any processing hitches or delays. The testing step assists in reducing the number of problems and malfunctions seen by consumers. As a result, there is a higher level of user satisfaction and a higher rate of utilization

6. Deployment

The next step of development is deployment or implementation, which occurs after all of the code has been tested and the program has been proven to operate flawlessly. The program is made available to the general public by either publishing it online or granting access to those who pay a fee.

Software may be released in phases so that final testing may be performed before it is distributed correctly. It's possible that user manuals or instructional videos will need to be developed and distributed alongside the program at this point so that people can learn how to use it.

7. Maintenance

The development cycle is virtually complete at this time. The application has been completed and is currently being utilized in the field. However, the period of operation and maintenance is still crucial. Users find issues that were missed during testing at this phase. These issues must be addressed, which may result in new development cycles.

The importance of the 7 stages of software development

The significance of these seven stages is that they provide a framework for successful implementation, and they also help in providing a clear vision of what needs to be achieved.

With a proper framework in place, it is easy to understand the importance of each stage and what needs to be achieved. This helps in drafting a solid plan and executing one successfully.

MCRO Tech is a software development company. The team comprises elite full-stack engineers, UX designers, managers, and product strategists who assist companies worldwide launch new projects. Their Eastern European branch is based in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Get in contact if you need help with embedded software or electronics, and we'll help you discover the proper individuals for all phases of the software development cycle.