Software development life cycle, which in principle might seem a simple task, consists of a series of mandatory steps designed to ensure that the programs created are efficient, reliable, secure, and respond to the needs of the final users.
The Software development life cycle contemplates the necessary phases to validate the required actions to ensure that the developed program meets the requirements for the application and verification of the procedures, ensuring that the methods used are appropriate.
All about Software development life cycle
The origin of this Software development life cycle lies in the fact that it is very expensive to rectify possible errors that are detected late in the implementation phase. By using appropriate methodologies, they could be detected in time so that programmers can focus on the quality of the program, meeting the deadlines and associated costs.
For example, in WillDom we count on our remote staff to use this method. The best software developers in Latin America can offer you reliable support when you need it the most and great processes to contribute to your company.
What are the rules?
Although there are different software development cycles, ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2017 rules state that a common framework for software life cycle processes, with well-defined terminology, to which the software industry can refer.
It contains processes, activities and tasks applicable during the acquisition, supply, development, operation, maintenance or disposal of software systems, products, and services. These lifecycle processes are carried out through stakeholder involvement, with the ultimate goal of achieving customer satisfaction.
The agile software development life cycle manager can most effectively handle every task and detail throughout the system design process, providing a schedule of key objectives to communicate to everyone involved and interested in the work to be done.
Its history
The Software development life cycle, according to Elliott & Strachan and Radford, began in the 1960s to develop large-scale functional business systems in an era of large-scale business conglomerates. Information systems revolved around heavy data processing activities and number crunching routines.
Several systems development frameworks have been based in part on the software development life cycle, such as the Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method (SSADM), developed for the UK government’s Office of Government Commerce in the 1980s.
Since then, according to Elliot, traditional life cycle approaches to systems development have been increasingly replaced with alternative methods and frameworks, which had attempted to overcome some of the inherent shortcomings of the traditional software development life cycle.
What are the software development life cycle phases?
The methodology that helps to know the Software life Cycle models is a systematic way of realizing, managing, and administering a project to carry it out with great chances of success. This systematization indicates how work is divided into smaller modules to standardize how it is managed.
Therefore, a methodology for software development are the processes to be followed systematically to devise, implement, and maintain a program product from the moment the need for the product arises until the objective for which it was created is fulfilled.
Planning
Before starting an information system development project, it is necessary to perform certain tasks that will have a decisive influence on its success. These tasks are known as the fuzzy front-end of the project since they are not subject to deadlines.
Some of the tasks in this phase include activities such as determining the scope of the project, conducting a feasibility study, analyzing the associated risks, estimating the cost of the project, and planning its timing and allocating resources to the different stages of the project.
Analysis
Of course, it is necessary to find out what exactly the software has to do.
Therefore, the analysis stage in the software life cycle corresponds to the process through which you try to find out what you really need and arrive at a proper understanding of the system requirements (the characteristics that the program must possess).
Design
In this phase, possible implementation options for the software to be built are studied, as well as deciding the general structure of the program. The design is a complex stage and its process must be carried out iteratively.
It is possible that the initial solution is not the most adequate, so in such a case it must be refined. However, there are useful catalogs of design patterns that collect mistakes that others have made to avoid falling into the same trap.
Implementation
In this phase, it is necessary to choose the appropriate tools, a development environment that facilitates the work, and an appropriate programming language for the type of software to be built.
This choice will depend both on the design decisions taken and on the environment in which the program must work.
Testing
As mistakes are always human, the testing phase of the software life cycle seeks to detect the failures made in the previous stages in order to correct them.
Of course, ideally, this should be done before the end user finds them. A test is considered a success if an error is detected.
Installation or deployment
The next phase is to put the software into operation, so the environment must be planned taking into account the dependencies between the different components of the software.
It is possible that there are components that work correctly separately, but when combined they may cause problems. Therefore, use known combinations that do not cause compatibility problems.
Use and maintenance
This is one of the most important phases of the software development life cycle. Since its use is neither broken nor wears out, maintenance includes three distinct points: eliminating defects detected during its useful life (corrective maintenance), adapting it to new needs (adaptive maintenance), and adding new functionalities (perfective maintenance).
Now you know all the phases in the software development life cycle that our top software developers and engineers take care of at WillDom.
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