Understanding the lifecycle of software development
Understanding the lifecycle of software development. Many people believe that the software they use on a daily basis has existed forever in its current format but, in reality, the truth is very different. The software goes through multiple iterations before release and product updates are also common through the lifecycle of almost all applications.
Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, once famously said, “Move fast and break things” – a motto that was intended to sum up the company’s internal processes but which aptly describes software development as a whole. Most software engineers will tell you an application is never really finished and there are always ways to improve an app’s operation, design, User Experience (UX), or security. For this reason, successful software development should be considered a continual process of refinement.
The Typical lifecycle of App Development
Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is an industry term that references the various stages of application development. It is based on standard business practices applied in other sectors but which work equally well for the successful production of applications. Typically, SDLC consists of six defined processes (though more complex app development may also encompass other additional stages):
- Planning
- Design, Outline Programming and Prototyping
- Software Development and Build
- Testing
- Deployment
- Maintenance