Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC): Understanding Phases, Types and Benefits

• Software
• October 3, 2024

by Samar Patel

Maximizing efficiency in software development projects is what most business leaders seek, which is why over 94% of organizations practice Agile. Adopting a systematic development approach like a software development life cycle can drive the efficiency you are striving for. Read the full blog post to gain insights into how this approach benefits your development process, the phases of the SDLC, various SDLC models, when to choose which model, and more.

In today’s digital economy, businesses are becoming software-intensive, keeping every software development company busy with numerous projects that need to be delivered on time and with the desired quality.

This is not a task that can be managed by a team making spontaneous decisions as situations arise.

This challenge has led companies to adopt a structured or systematic approach to their software development processes. 

This approach is known as the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

Let us first understand what this term means.

What is Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?

The SDLC is a structured approach used by software development companies to plan, develop, test, and deploy high-quality software. It enables development teams to deliver software that meets customer requirements and user expectations while avoiding pitfalls that increase the risk of project failure, even as needs evolve and market scenarios change.

What sets the SDLC apart is its ability to be both cost-effective and time-efficient. By following a clear, step-by-step approach, the SDLC helps teams avoid costly mistakes and rework, ensuring that projects stay on schedule and within budget.

By dividing the SDLC phases such as planning, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance, the SDLC ensures that software is developed systematically. It provides complete visibility and control over the entire process.

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Key Benefits of Adopting the Software Development Life Cycle

Understanding the advantages of the SDLC is essential for anyone involved in software development, as it lays the foundation for delivering reliable and scalable software solutions. So, let us explore the benefits of the SDLC process in detail.

Systematic approach to development

A systematic approach means better organization of tasks, effective allocation of resources, and improved management of project timelines. 

It leads to a more controlled development environment, increasing the likelihood of meeting project goals within budget and on schedule—without compromising quality in any aspect of development.

Faster time to market

Having a structured framework allows the project to be broken down into distinct phases (which we will explore further in this blog). This approach increases efficiency, minimizes delays, and ensures timely product delivery. 

A faster time to market enables businesses to capitalize on emerging opportunities, gain a competitive edge, and meet market demands more promptly.

Clear guidelines for developers

A well-defined software development lifecycle process outlines the specific tasks, responsibilities, deliverables, timelines, and more for every stage of the development process. 

This ensures that software developers have a clear roadmap of what needs to be done and when minimizing misunderstandings and miscommunications. The result is fewer revisions, reduced errors, consistent quality maintenance of the digital product, and ultimately, cost and time savings.

Improved Transparency in the development process

Apart from clear milestones and deliverables, the SDLC often involves using project management and visualization tools, enabling stakeholders, including customers and investors, to receive real-time updates on project status. 

Regular communication and collaboration for reporting and updates further ensure that everyone involved not only stays informed but can also assess performance against milestones and make informed decisions.

Improved risk management

Risk management practices are implemented in every phase of the software development life cycle. Each phase involves specific activities and deliverables, providing opportunities to identify potential risks before they escalate and become costly.

The ability to detect risks early allows the team to develop mitigation strategies to address critical threats. Additionally, it enables developers to create a contingency plan.

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Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Software Development Life Cycle Phases

As we know, the SDLC is a structured approach comprising a bifurcated software development process. Here are SDLC phases that can help you better navigate the complexities of software development projects:

1. Feasibility Study

In this phase, the project’s viability is assessed. A feasibility study is conducted to evaluate the practicality of the project by examining its technical, financial, and operational aspects. 

For instance, evaluating the availability of resources and technology, analyzing the project’s cost-benefit ratio, assessing the project’s alignment with organizational goals, and more.

The outcome of this study helps determine whether to proceed with the project, adjust its scope, or abandon the initiative.

2. Selecting a methodology 

This phase of the software system development life cycle involves choosing a suitable SDLC model based on the project requirements. Common SDLC methodologies include Waterfall, Agile, and more.

For instance, if your project is complex with uncertain requirements, like developing a mobile software solution that needs to adapt to changing user feedback, Agile might be the best choice. Conversely, for well-defined projects with minimal changes, such as developing regulatory compliance software, Waterfall could be a suitable methodology.

The selected methodology will guide the entire development process, influencing how the team handles tasks, timelines, level of flexibility, and deliverables.

3. Communication and Requirement Gathering

This phase involves engaging with customers through interviews, workshops, surveys, and other methods to understand their needs and expectations. The goal is to define the scope of the project and gather all necessary requirements that the software solution must fulfill. 

Additionally, clear and thorough documentation is created based on the gathered information to ensure that everyone has a shared understanding of the project’s objectives, functional requirements, and technical specifications.

4. Developing a Software Design

In this phase, the software’s architecture and design are developed. The software development team creates data models, designs the user interfaces, details the overall software structure, and more. 

The design serves as a blueprint for the development team, guiding them in building the software system.

5. Writing the code

This is the phase where developers write the actual code using the appropriate technology stack, including programming languages, frameworks, tools, and more, to implement the software design. 

Along with the technology stack, developers follow the design specifications while coding the software. They work on building the frontend, backend, APIs, and other components.

6. Testing

It is one of the most critical phases of SDLC life cycle as it ensures the software’s quality. After the code is constructed, it undergoes rigorous testing to identify and fix any bugs or issues. 

Various testing methods, such as functional testing, performance testing, regression testing, and more, are employed by QA engineers to ensure the system functions as expected and meets the requirements. It also ensures that the software performs well under different conditions.

7. Integration

In the integration phase, the different modules and components of the software developed during the coding phase are combined into a unified system. This step ensures that all parts of the system work together seamlessly. 

For example, a dedicated developer might integrate a payment gateway module into an eCommerce platform to enable online transactions or connect a CRM system with an existing email marketing platform to automate customer communication and lead nurturing. 

Integration testing is conducted to verify that the newly integrated features meet the overall design specifications and do not disrupt existing functionalities.

8. Deploying

Once the system has been fully tested and integrated, it is deployed to the production environment to make it available for use by the customer. 

Deployment involves installing the software on servers, configuring the system, making it accessible to end-users, and possibly migrating data from legacy systems, if applicable.

9. Maintenance

The final phase of the SDLC in software development is maintenance, which involves ongoing support and updates to the software. 

Maintenance activities include fixing bugs, updating the software to adapt to new requirements, adding new features, optimizing performance, implementing security patches, and ensuring the system continues to function as intended. 

Regular maintenance ensures that the system operates efficiently and effectively for the longest time.

Types of Software Development Life Cycle Models

Each project is unique, and so are the software development process requirements. This is why there are various software development life cycle models available, each offering a range of methodologies that you can adopt according to your specific needs and project constraints.

Here are some of the popular software development life cycle models:

1. Agile

Agile is an SDLC methodology that enables the development team to break down their project into small, manageable units called sprints. This methodology is characterized by its iterative and incremental approach, which emphasizes collaboration, flexibility to adapt, and customer feedback.

When to use Agile:

• Suitable for projects where the requirements may change frequently based on customer feedback or market conditions.
• When a project requires frequent updates and rapid delivery of new features.
• Best suited for projects where team members need to work closely with customers and adapt to changes dynamically.

2. Waterfall

The Waterfall model is a linear and sequential approach where a developer can move to the next phase of development only upon completing the current phase.

When to use Waterfall:

• Ideal for projects with clear and fixed requirements that are unlikely to change.
• Suitable for small projects with a fixed scope that does not need to adapt to new or evolving requirements.
• Best for projects where both the technology and the environment are stable and well-understood.

3. Rapid Application Development (RAD)

The RAD model emphasizes rapid prototyping and iterative development rather than extensive planning. This means that development teams work on creating prototypes early in the software development process to gather feedback and then make adjustments to the prototypes before further developing the software.

When to use RAD:

• Ideal for projects where time-to-market is crucial and quicker development cycles are needed.
• When requirements are not fully defined at the start, iterative feedback is necessary to refine the product.
• For projects where user feedback is critical for improving the final product and guiding further development.

4. V-model

Also known as the Verification or Validation model, this model is an extension of the Waterfall model. Unlike the Waterfall model, which is linear, the V-Model follows a V-shaped approach, emphasizing parallel testing phases for each development stage. It ensures that each development phase is validated against requirements and verified through corresponding testing.

When to use the V-Model:

• Ideal for projects where quality assurance is a critical factor.
• Best for projects that have well-defined requirements and need rigorous testing and validation.

5. Spiral

As the name suggests, this model involves repeating cycles or spirals, which combine iterative development with the Waterfall model to enhance risk management (its primary focus).

When to use the Spiral Model:

• Ideal for complex and large-scale projects where risk management and iterative refinement are crucial.
• Useful when requirements are expected to change over time, allowing for iterative adjustments and refinements.

6. Iterative

Derived from the word “iteration,” this model involves repeated cycles of development, testing, and evaluation. With each iteration, the development team can improve and refine the software version based on customer feedback.

When to use the Iterative Model:

• Ideal for projects where incremental improvements and refinements are needed.
• Suitable for projects where requirements are not fully defined at the start and may evolve as development progresses.
• Useful when frequent feedback from users is needed to guide the development process and make adjustments.

7. Incremental

The Incremental model involves building the software in small, manageable increments or segments. Each increment adds new functionality to the existing system, allowing for partial deployment and use.

When to use the Incremental Model:

• Ideal for projects where the software can be developed in distinct, functional modules or components.
• Suitable for projects where early delivery of functional parts is beneficial, allowing users to start using parts of the system before the full system is completed.
• Useful for large-scale projects with complex requirements, where delivering the system incrementally helps manage and control scope and resources.

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FAQs on the Software Development Life Cycle