Software Development Life Cycle

The traditional waterfall model, often referred to simply as the waterfall

approach or cascade model, is a sequential software development process. It is
one of the earliest models used in software engineering. In the waterfall model,
the development process progresses through several distinct phases, each of
which must be completed before the next phase begins. The phases are typically
sequential and do not overlap
The early stages of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) typically involve
the following phases:
• Planning: In this phase, the project's scope, objectives, timelines, resources,
and risks are identified and documented. Key stakeholders are involved in
defining the project requirements and determining the feasibility of the project.
• Feasibility Study: Before committing to the project, a feasibility study is
conducted to assess whether the project is technically, financially, and
operationally feasible. This study helps in making informed decisions about
whether to proceed with the project.
• Requirement Analysis: Also known as requirements gathering, this phase
involves gathering, analyzing, and documenting the requirements of the
software system. Requirements can be functional (what the system should do)
and non-functional (qualities the system should have, such as performance or
security).
 Software Development Life Cycle
• System Design: Based on the gathered requirements, the system architecture
and design are planned out. This phase involves designing the overall structure of
the system, including its components, modules, interfaces, and data storage. The
design phase may also include creating prototypes or mockups to visualize the
system.
These early stages set the foundation for the rest of the SDLC by establishing the
project's goals, requirements, and architecture. They help ensure that the
development team has a clear understanding of what needs to be built and how it
will be accomplished before moving into the implementation phase.
Feasibility Analysis:
• Feasibility analysis is conducted to assess whether the proposed project is
technically, financially, and operationally feasible. It helps stakeholders make
informed decisions about whether to proceed with the project. Feasibility
analysis typically involves the following aspects:
• Technical Feasibility: This aspect examines whether the proposed project can
be implemented using existing technology and infrastructure. It assesses
whether the required technology is available, whether it can be acquired or
developed within the project constraints, and whether it can be integrated
with existing systems.
 Software Development Life Cycle
• Financial Feasibility: Financial feasibility evaluates whether the project is
financially viable within the allocated budget. It involves estimating the costs
associated with development, implementation, maintenance, and operation
of the software system. Cost-benefit analysis is often performed to compare
the projected benefits of the project with its costs.
• Operational Feasibility: Operational feasibility assesses whether the
proposed system will be acceptable to end-users and stakeholders. It
considers factors such as user acceptance, ease of use, compatibility with
existing processes, and the impact of the system on organizational
operations.
System Analysis:
• System analysis involves gathering, analyzing, and documenting the
requirements of the software system. It is a detailed examination of the
current system and the identification of user needs for the new system. The
primary objectives of system analysis include:
• Requirement Gathering: System analysts work closely with stakeholders to
identify and document the functional and non-functional requirements of the
software system. This involves conducting interviews, surveys, workshops,
and other techniques to elicit requirements from end-users, managers, and
other stakeholders.
 Software Development Life Cycle
• Requirement Analysis: Once the requirements are gathered, they are analyzed to
ensure they are complete, consistent, and feasible. System analysts prioritize
requirements and resolve any conflicts or ambiguities. They also identify any
additional requirements that may be necessary to meet the project goals.
• System Modeling: System analysts create models, diagrams, and prototypes
to visualize the system and its components. This helps stakeholders better
understand the proposed system and provides a basis for design and
development.
System analysis lays the foundation for the rest of the SDLC by defining what
needs to be built and how it will be accomplished. It ensures that the software
system meets the needs of its users and stakeholders.
System design phase
• The System Design Phase, also known as the Design Phase, is a crucial stage in
the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) where the overall architecture and
structure of the software system are planned out in detail. This phase follows the
Requirements Analysis phase and precedes the Implementation phase. The
primary goal of the System Design Phase is to translate the requirements
gathered during the analysis phase into a technical blueprint that guides the
development team in building the software system
 Software Development Life Cycle
• User Interface (UI) Design:
• Definition: Design the user interface elements and interactions to ensure a user-
friendly and intuitive experience.
• Activities:
• Create wireframes, mockups, or prototypes to visualize the layout and flow of
the user interface.
• Design user interface elements such as forms, buttons, menus, and navigation
controls.
• Define the visual design elements including colors, fonts, icons, and imagery.
• Database Design:
• Definition: Design the structure and organization of the database
that will store the system's data.
• Activities:
• Identify entities and attributes to be represented in the database.
• Design the database schema, including tables, fields, indexes, and relationships.
• Define data integrity constraints and access controls.
 Software Development Life Cycle
System development phase
• The System Development Phase, often referred to as the Implementation Phase,
is a critical stage in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) where the
software system is built based on the requirements and design specifications
outlined in earlier phases. This phase involves translating the design into actual
code and creating the software product. Here's an overview of the System
Development Phase:
• Coding:
• Developers write code according to the detailed design specifications
developed in the previous phases.
• Coding standards and best practices are followed to ensure consistency,
readability, and maintainability of the code.
• Code is typically written in programming languages such as Java, Python, C++,
or JavaScript, depending on the project requirements.
• Unit Testing:
• Unit tests are created and executed to validate individual units or components
of the software in isolation.
• Developers write test cases to verify the correctness of each unit's
functionality, identify defects, and ensure code quality.
 Software Development Life Cycle
• Integration:
• Once individual units are tested and verified, they are integrated to form
larger modules or subsystems.
• Integration testing is conducted to verify the interactions and interfaces
between these components and ensure they work together as intended.
• Different integration strategies such as top-down, bottom-up, or incremental
integration may be employed based on the project's architecture.

Testing phase
The Testing Phase in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a crucial stage
where the developed software is thoroughly tested to ensure it meets the
specified requirements, functions as expected, and is of high quality before it is
deployed to production. Testing helps identify and address defects, errors, and
vulnerabilities in the software, ultimately reducing the risk of issues in the live
environment.
• Objective: The main objective of the Testing Phase is to validate the software
against the defined requirements, functional specifications, and quality
standards. It aims to uncover defects, errors, and discrepancies between
expected and actual behavior, ensuring the software's reliability, usability, and
performance.
 Software Development Life Cycle
Deployment or Implementing phase
The software is deployed to the production environment for end-users to
access and use. Deployment activities include installing the software,
configuring servers and databases, migrating data, and ensuring the system is
operational.
• Training:
• End-users may receive training on how to use the software effectively.
• Training sessions or materials such as user guides, tutorials, or videos may be
provided to help users familiarize themselves with the software.
Maintenance Phase
• The Maintenance Phase occurs after the software has been deployed to
production and involves maintaining, supporting, and enhancing the software to
ensure its ongoing functionality and performance. Here's what happens during
this phase:
• Bug Fixes:
• Address defects or issues reported by users or identified during ongoing
monitoring and testing.
• Bug fixes are prioritized based on severity and impact on users.
 Software Development Life Cycle
• Updates and Enhancements:
• Implement updates or enhancements to improve the software's functionality,
usability, or performance.
• This may include adding new features, optimizing existing features, or adapting the
software to meet changing requirements.
• Performance Monitoring:
• Monitor the performance of the software in the production environment.
• Identify and address any performance bottlenecks or scalability issues to ensure
optimal performance.
• Security Updates:
• Apply security patches and updates to protect the software from vulnerabilities and
cyber threats.
• Implement security measures to safeguard sensitive data and prevent unauthorized
access.
• User Support:
• Provide ongoing support to users by addressing their inquiries, troubleshooting issues,
and offering guidance on how to use the software effectively.