The phases of software development, often referred to as the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), encompass the various stages involved in creating and maintaining software. While specific methodologies may vary, a typical SDLC includes several core phases. According to the provided reference, a full SDLC has seven basic stages:
The 7 Basic Stages of Software Development
Here's a breakdown of these stages:
| Phase | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Planning | This initial stage defines the scope of the project, sets objectives, and identifies potential risks. It involves determining the project's feasibility and creating a project plan. |
| 2. Requirements | This stage involves gathering and documenting all the specific requirements of the software. This includes functional and non-functional requirements. This is a crucial stage for ensuring the software meets user needs. |
| 3. Design and Prototype | In this phase, the software's architecture, user interface, and other design elements are created. Prototyping might be used to visualize the software and gather feedback early in the development process. |
| 4. Software Development | This is where the actual coding of the software takes place, based on the design specifications. Developers write and integrate code to build the software product. |
| 5. Testing | The software is rigorously tested to identify and fix any bugs or defects. Various testing methods, such as unit testing, integration testing, and system testing, are employed to ensure the software's quality. |
| 6. Deployment | The software is released and installed into the production environment. This may involve deploying the software to servers, distributing it to end-users, or migrating data. |
| 7. Maintenance | After deployment, the software requires ongoing maintenance to fix bugs, add new features, and ensure it continues to meet user needs. Maintenance includes updates, patches, and support. |
It's important to note that, as the reference states, "In some cases, depending on different variables (project, team, manager, etc.), certain steps can be omitted, split, or combined." This means that the specific phases and their implementation can be tailored to the specific project and its context. For example, in an Agile methodology, these phases might be iterated on in short cycles (sprints).
