SDLC Method of Software Development
About SDLC Method
Leaders Network utilizes Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) which is a process used by the software industry to design, develop test and deploy high quality softwares.
In the realm of software development, the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is akin to the architectural plan or methodology used in house construction. It's a crucial process that outlines methodology for development cycles that create effective, high-quality software from concept to launch, and even thereafter. From initiation to the maintenance phase post-deployment, each phase presents distinct tasks and objectives.
Using SDLC, Leaders Network have been able to produce a high-quality softwares that meets International standards.
The following figure is a graphical representation of the various stages of a typical SDLC.
A typical Software Development Life Cycle consists of the following stages
Conceptualisation Phase
The conceptualization stage of software development is the initial phase of a project where the groundwork is laid for the software's purpose and direction. It's also known as the ideation stage. This can be done by the client or customer and it is the groundwork for pre development.
During this conceptualization stage, the development team achieves the following:
- Identifies a problem: The team works together to identify a problem to solve.
- Generates ideas: The team brainstorms and generates innovative ideas.
- Researches the market: The team conducts market research to align ideas with market demands.
- Clarifies engineering specifications: The team clarifies engineering specifications.
- Establishes function structures: The team establishes function structures.
- Identifies working principles: The team identifies and combines working principles.
- Evaluates concept variants: The team evaluates concept variants based on technical and economic criteria.
- Decides on a solution principle: The team decides on the solution principle
Planning and Requirement Analysis
The initial stage of software development, Planning, involves defining the software's purpose and scope, much like pinpointing our destination and plotting the best route. We uncover the tasks at hand during this phase and strategize for efficient execution.
The team collaborates to understand the end-users' needs and the goals the software should meet. Essentially, we ask, "What problem will this software solve?" and "What value will it offer to the user?"
A feasibility study also takes place during the Planning phase. Our Developers and product teams evaluate technical and financial challenges that might affect the software's development or success.
Defining Requirements
Once the requirement analysis is done, the next step is to clearly define and document the product requirements and get them approved from the customer or the market analysts. Leaders Network use an SRS (Software Requirement Specification) document which consists of all the product requirements to be designed and developed during the project life cycle.
In this phase, the team is looking to answer, "What are the expectations of our users from our software?" This is called requirements gathering.
Designing the Product Architecture
Leaders SRS is the reference for our product architects to come out with the best architecture for the product to be developed. Based on the requirements specified in SRS, usually more than one design approach for the product architecture is proposed and documented in a DDS - Design Document Specification.
This DDS is reviewed by all the important stakeholders and based on various parameters as risk assessment, product robustness, design modularity, budget and time constraints, the best design approach is selected for the product.
Building or Developing the Product
In this stage of SDLC, the actual development starts and the product is built. The programming code is generated as per DDS during this stage. If the design is performed in a detailed and organized manner, code generation can be accomplished without much hassle.
Developers must follow the coding guidelines defined by their organization and programming tools like compilers, interpreters, debuggers, etc. are used to generate the code.
Testing the Product
The Testing phase of our SDLC Is a stringent quality inspection on a production line. It is when vulnerabilities are uncovered. Software testing involves a thorough examination of the software for any bugs or glitches that might have slipped through during coding.
The testing process begins by setting clear parameters in line with the software's requirements. This includes identifying the necessary software conditions, and outlining diverse scenarios to examine these conditions.
Deployment in the Market and Maintenance
At Leaders Network, the Deployment phase involves rolling out the meticulously tested and fine-tuned software to its end-users.
A specific strategy is executed for the software's deployment to ensure minimal disruption to the user experience. Depending on the software and its audience, we might use different methods such as Big Bang, Blue-Green, or Canary deployments.
Maintenance and operations
The final stage of the software development life cycle is maintenance and operations. This is one of the most critical stages because it's when our hard work gets put to the test.
Maintenance involves updating an existing software product to fix bugs and ensure reliability. It can also include adding new features or functionality to a current product.
