7 Stages Of SDLC: How To Keep Software Business Running?

Software business development depends on two things. The first is a vision, and the second is knowledge of the detailed process to take your software from the initial phase to the highest level of success. If you are stepping into the fast and emerging world of software development for the first time, you must know about the steps of system development life cycle.

SDLC, abbreviated for system development life cycle, is a 7-step approach used to develop software according to the needs of the user within the timeframe. Not just that, it includes working on ideas to make your software better than your competitors. If you have a software idea that will be helpful for users and will reach beyond functionality and popularity. Here is your guide for developing it smoothly.

What is the need to follow the steps of system development life cycle?

If you are thinking of working on your software model without following a systematic approach, there are chances you will miss out on one thing or another. The goal of SDLC is to develop your software to obtain a final product that is reliable and excellent. Moreover, methodologies can be tailored as per the needs of the particular business, helping teams coordinate and work together efficiently.

 What are the 7 stages of system development life cycle?

 1 Survey or investigation stage: 

Of all the steps of system development life cycle, the first one includes investigation. You need to know what you want to do. You can start by analyzing issues with present software solutions. If you can clearly define the need and purpose of your software, you already have half of its solution.

Without a clear understanding of issues in the available system, you might keep running in circles, and all efforts can end up going into the trash. You must have following things done in your first stage:

• Finding the objective of your new system.
• Cost, budgeting and which equipment you are going to use.
• What is the target time to finish the project?
• What is the size of your project?
• Proper reports on the desired output.

2 Analysis and study:

In the second step of SDLC, you must gather as much information as possible from the users. The development team need this data for the next step. Hardware, security, programming and operating systems can only coordinate when everyone understands the requirements in detail.

3 Prototype and designing: 

This is one of the crucial stages where the software designing will be done by keeping user requirements collected in the previous step in mind. Also, program developers analyze the feasibility of the product for customers in all ways (financially and technologically).

After design completion, it is essential to review the design by all stakeholders. All feedback, suggestions, and mistakes can be applied after the review.

4. Coding and implementing: 

This is the stage where you must decide whether you want to buy commercial software or get your programming team to work. Yes! It is time to code!

The entire system will be developed by using the programming language chosen by you (choose what suits your program the most). This is the fourth and longest step of system development life cycle, where programmers need to use implementing tools like compiler, debugger and interpreter. Still, there is space for modifications in case the business analysts want any.

5 System testing:

After the completion of the software, it needs to go into testing mode. The testing team tests the performance and functionality of the application and checks if the software is working as per the customer’s requirements.

This process is not linear but goes around in circles. Let us see how.

Once testing starts, the team find bugs and defects (through Q &A), and reports are sent to developers. After the developers fix the bugs, the software goes for retesting, and this process keeps on circling until there is complete satisfaction and no bugs left. There are three aims of this step:

• To check if the system operates as per the specification
• Incorrect data and bugs are fixed.
• The system controls work as intended.

6 Deployment or integration: 

In the sixth step of system development life cycle, the product is deployed (released). In this step, all the hardware and software installation and training to collect the data for software use is done. A final testing is performed before the last release. After release, the users will get to operate the software, and here comes the moment of truth. The software makers will know if their product is helpful to the audience in the way they thought or not.

7 Maintenance:

Your work is not done after you made and launched your software successfully. Learning is lifelong and a process, and you must maintain your system to adapt to the business needs. You will need to focus on the following things:

• Errors in existing software.
• Customization
• Adding more functions and enhancement

 Takeaway:

All the above steps of system development life cycle are great tools to help software from beginning to launch and beyond. If you are a beginner in software development, make sure you use all 7 stages of system development life cycle.

To avoid failure and loss of money, always stay motivated to provide customer satisfaction. Understanding the client’s needs is the biggest challenge in any business, so keep your basics clear by conducting customer research properly.

However, if you need customized software, visit Intetics. We provide software solutions to anyone having a solid software idea. To know more about us, visit our website now!