Software Development Process
Introduction
The software development process, also known as software development life cycle (SDLC), is a structured process used by organizations to design, develop, and test high-quality software. The ultimate goal of this process is to produce a software product that is efficient, effective, and of high quality.
Phases of Software Development Process
The software development process is divided into several phases. Each phase produces deliverables required by the next phase in the life cycle.
Requirements Gathering and Analysis
In the requirements gathering and analysis phase, business requirements are gathered in this phase. This phase is the main focus of the project managers and stake holders. Meetings with managers, stake holders and users are held in order to determine the requirements.
System Design
The system design phase is where the system and software design is prepared from the requirement specifications which were studied in the first phase. System Design helps in specifying hardware and system requirements and also helps in defining overall system architecture.
Implementation or Coding
The coding phase is where the designs are translated into code. Computer programming languages are used for coding. The system is first developed in small programs called units, which are integrated in the next phase.
Integration and Testing
In the integration and testing phase, all the units developed in the implementation phase are integrated into a system after testing of each unit. Post integration the entire system is tested for any faults and failures.
Deployment
Once the functional and non-functional testing is done, the product is deployed in the customer environment or released into the market in the deployment phase.
Maintenance
In the maintenance phase, post deployment, bugs or any issues are fixed and regularly upgraded.
Software Development Models
There are various models followed in the software development process. Each model has its own set of unique activities and steps.
Waterfall Model
The Waterfall model is a classical model used in system development life cycle to create a system with a linear and sequential approach. It is termed as waterfall because the model develops systematically from one phase to another in a downward fashion.
V-Model
The V-Model is an extension of the waterfall model. Instead of moving down in a linear way, the process steps are bent upwards after the coding phase, to form the typical V shape. The major difference between V-shaped model and waterfall model is the early start of testing in the V-shaped model.
Incremental Model
The Incremental model is a method of software development where the model is designed, implemented and tested incrementally (a little more is added each time) until the product is finished.
Spiral Model
The Spiral model combines the idea of iterative development with the systematic, controlled aspects of the waterfall model. This Spiral model is a combination of iterative development process model and sequential linear development model i.e. the waterfall model with a very high emphasis on risk analysis.
Software Development Methodologies
Software development methodologies are the frameworks used to structure, plan, and control the process of developing an information system.
Agile Software Development
Agile software development methodology is a conceptual framework for undertaking software engineering projects. Agile methods are a family of development processes, not a single approach to software development.
Scrum
Scrum is an iterative and incremental agile software development method for managing software projects and product or application development.
Extreme Programming
Extreme Programming (XP) is a software development methodology which is intended to improve software quality and responsiveness to changing customer requirements.
Lean Software Development
Lean software development is a translation of lean manufacturing principles and practices to the software development domain.
Conclusion
The software development process is a complex, yet necessary process that ensures the delivery of high-quality software products. It is a systematic approach that involves several phases, each with its own set of activities and deliverables. The choice of software development model and methodology depends on the specific requirements and context of the project.
