A software development life cycle (SDLC) is a multi-step process software teams use to create programs with as few errors as possible. Each method uses a different approach to create high-quality software. If you’re seeking a career in software development, understanding the different SDLC methodologies can help you impress hiring managers and succeed in the industry.
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In this article, we explain the stages of SDLC methodologies, list some of the most popular methodologies and provide tips to help you choose which one to use for a project.
What are the stages of SDLC methodologies?
Here are the seven stages of any SDLC methodology:
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Planning: This involves establishing functionality requirements, determining what the application does and identifying the types of data necessary to create the software.
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Analysis: In this stage, software developers and project managers decide whether they can achieve the requirements. After analyzing these requirements, developers create a requirement specification document.
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Design: This involves designing the requirements at the planning stage. In this phase, developers create the system design they use to plan the software, hardware and system architecture.
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Development: This is when the software coding happens. It involves dividing the tasks into modules and units and coding according to the design and requirement documentation.
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Testing: In this stage, developers troubleshoot and correct any parts of the software.
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Implementation: In this phase, developers deliver the software to the client and deploy it on their systems. Developers then conduct beta testing to identify, report and fix any errors before doing a final installment of the software.
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Maintenance: This step is continuous as teams monitor and handle any necessary updates as the customer uses the new software.
8 popular SDLC methodologies
Here are some of the most popular SDLC methodologies:
1. Agile
Agile offers a rapid process and flexibility that makes it one of the most popular methodologies. In the Agile approach, the software development team completes work in short periods, like a few weeks. This process uses what developers call fast failure to revise and test as they go through new iterations of the software. Agile also can apply to non-software projects because of its framework and processes.
The Agile method uses the Scrum framework, which requires teams to develop hypotheses about how they think they can do the job, implement their method, assess the process and adjust it based on feedback. The Scrum framework has scrum masters lead each mini-campaign in the development project. Frequent meetings and assessments employ feedback from developers, managers and stakeholders to update the development process.
2. Waterfall
One of the first SDLC methods to become popular, Waterfall follows a strict approach to planning each part of a project before its inception. In this method, the team settles each requirement before any other design stages begin. After building and testing a project, developers complete assigned revisions to alter the software.
The Waterfall approach is straightforward because developers build each successive step in the process upon the previous. In this method, developers identify the problems and resolve them immediately in the design phase. This method often makes it easier to estimate costs because developers outline every detail from the onset of the project.
3. Iterative
In the Iterative method, software teams implement requirements without extensive planning. Once a requirement is in place, developers test items as they move through the project and revise as needed. The idea behind the Iterative model is that each successive development cycle and testing produces a better version of the product until you reach the final result.
Iterative models put design first because developers spend less time in planning and analysis. This model is can be a cost-effective option because developers can fix mistakes earlier than they do in some other methods. It also allows developers to more easily adapt a project to meet the needs of a client.
4. Lean
Following the Lean method involves using the ideas of manufacturing to cut waste and increase efficiency to benefit an organization. The Lean method aims to reduce cost and increase productivity to deliver a product as quickly and effectively as possible. Lean project developers work on one task at a time to eliminate multitasking and focus on creating the best system development within a single stage. The Lean methodology follows these seven principles:
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Refining information
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Eliminating waste
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Making decisions as late as possible
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Delivering a product as quickly as possible
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Keeping the integrity of a concept
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Empowering a team
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Seeing the whole product
5. Spiral
The Spiral method uses a cycle of refining and testing to produce a software system. This methodology works well for large projects and uses customer feedback to adapt each successive model of a system. In the Spiral method, teams look ahead to identify potential risks before beginning a new cycle of the project, making it easier to avoid errors and reduce the impact of mistakes. The four steps of the Spiral cycle are:
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Planning
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Risk analysis
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Engineering
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Evaluation
6. DevOps
DevOps combines the work of development teams with operations to increase the amount of feedback, quick revisions, and automation in a project. This can lead to more innovation in the development of products because both teams work together to create new systems. Developers consider the DevOps method as a cultural shift in organizations because it changes the team infrastructure. This method also often increases the reliability of a product because experts from both operations and development combine their skills to deploy a product.
7. V-Model
V-Model, which some call the Verification and Validation model, focuses on testing at every step of development. This method also compartmentalizes each step, which often makes it easier to control the development process. The V-Model method connects the testing of a product to its corresponding development phase, meaning it essentially makes the development process follow the coding phase instead of following the traditional order.
8. Prototyping
A Prototyping methodology is effective for testing a new concept or creating a system for emerging technology. In this method, developers focus most of their efforts on creating a model and outlining the overall plans for a system. The Prototype method allows customers to see the capabilities of a design before implementing any coding or testing.
Tips for choosing an SDLC methodology
If you’re trying to decide which SDLC methodology is the best fit for your project, consider the following tips:
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Recruit the right team. No matter which methodology you choose, try to focus on assembling a team that can innovate and solve problems under any method. Once you have a strong team, you can use the abilities of your group to produce a high-quality product.
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Know the methods. Before you choose an SDLC methodology, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of each. Consider researching each method to learn how they work and to review examples of projects that use each methodology.
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Consider your team. You can determine which method works best by creating a list of why each structure benefits your team. Review your list to find which methodology would be the best fit for your organization.
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Think about the end goal. All methodologies work toward the same result, but each project may have different goals to achieve during the process. For example, if you want to test a project more, you might use the Iterative or Spiral methods.
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