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Vigneshwaran V
Vigneshwaran V

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SDLC

SDLC?

The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a structured, step-by-step process used by engineering teams to plan, build, test, and deploy high-quality software. Its primary goal is to minimize risks, control costs, and ensure the final product meets customer and business requirements.

  • It helps teams deliver high-quality software on time, within budget, and according to user requirements.

Why is SDLC important?

Software development can be challenging to manage due to changing requirements, technology upgrades, and cross-functional collaboration. The software development lifecycle (SDLC) methodology provides a systematic management framework with specific deliverables at every stage of the software development process. As a result, all stakeholders agree on software development goals and requirements upfront and also have a plan to achieve those goals.

Here are some benefits of SDLC:

  • Increased visibility of the development process for all stakeholders involved

  • Efficient estimation, planning, and scheduling

  • Improved risk management and cost estimation

  • Systematic software delivery and better customer satisfaction

How does SDLC work?

The software development lifecycle (SDLC) outlines several tasks required to build a software application. The development process goes through several stages as developers add new features and fix bugs in the software.

The details of the SDLC process vary for different teams. However, we outline some common SDLC phases below.

SDLC Phases with Examples

1. Requirements Gathering

What?
Requirements Gathering is the process of understanding the needs of the customer or client and identifying what they want the software to accomplish. The requirements provided by the client are collected, analyzed, and documented so that the development team can build the software according to their expectations.

Why?
This phase is important because it ensures that the development team builds the right product according to the customer's needs. Proper requirements gathering helps avoid misunderstandings, reduces the chances of rework, minimizes project risks, and provides a clear foundation for all subsequent phases of the SDLC.

Who?

  • Client/Customer

  • Business Analyst (BA)

  • Product Owner

How?

  • Meetings

  • Discussions

  • Requirement Documents

Example

A restaurant company wants a food delivery application.

They provide requirements such as:

  • Users can register and login.

  • Users can search restaurants.

  • Users can add food to cart.

  • Users can pay online.

  • Users can track orders.

Outcome

  • Software Requirement Specification (SRS) Document

  • Clearly Defined Project Requirements

2. Planning

What?
Planning is the phase where the project team creates a detailed roadmap for developing the software. Based on the gathered requirements, the team determines the project scope, timeline, budget, resources, technologies, and overall strategy needed to successfully complete the project.
Why?
This phase helps ensure that the project is completed efficiently within the allocated time and budget. It allows the team to estimate costs, allocate resources, identify potential risks, define project milestones, and establish a clear execution plan before development begins.
Who?

  • Project Manager

  • Team Leads

  • Business Analyst
    How?

  • Create project schedule

  • Estimate budget

  • Allocate resources

  • Assign team members

  • Define milestones

  • Identify risks

  • Select technologies

Example

For the food delivery application:
The Project Manager plans:

  • Project Duration: 6 Months

- Team:

  • 2 Frontend Developers

  • 2 Backend Developers

  • 2 Testers

  • 1 UI/UX Designer

  • Budget: ₹10 Lakhs
    Technology Stack:

  • React (Frontend)

  • Node.js (Backend)

  • MySQL (Database)
    Potential Risks:

  • Requirement changes

  • Delays in development

  • Budget overruns
    Outcome

  • Project Plan

  • Resource Allocation Plan

  • Budget Estimation

  • Risk Management Plan

  • Project Schedule and Timeline

3. Design

Design is the phase where the requirements are transformed into a technical blueprint that guides developers during implementation. It defines how the system will function, how different components will interact, how the database will be structured, and how users will interact with the application.
Why?
The design phase provides a clear structure for the software before coding begins. It helps developers understand the architecture, reduces development errors, improves maintainability, and ensures that the final product meets both functional and technical requirements.
Who?

  • Software Architect

  • System Designer

  • UI/UX Designer

  • Database Designer
    How?

  • Create system architecture

  • Design user interfaces

  • Design database schema

  • Design APIs

  • Create technical specifications

Example

For the food delivery application:
UI Screens:

  • Login Page
  • Home Page
  • Restaurant Listing Page
  • Cart Page
  • Payment Page

Database Tables:

  • Users
  • Restaurants
  • Orders
  • Payments Architecture: 
Mobile/Web App
        ↓
Backend API
        ↓
Database
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Outcome

  • High-Level Design (HLD)
  • Low-Level Design (LLD)
  • UI Mockups/Wireframes
  • Database Design Documents
  • API Design Documents

4. Development (Coding)

Development is the phase where developers write the actual source code based on the design documents. The application's features and functionalities are implemented using programming languages, frameworks, and tools.
Why?
This phase converts the software design into a working application. It is where the actual product is built and all business requirements are implemented.
Who?

  • Frontend Developers
  • Backend Developers
  • Full-Stack Developers How?
  • Write source code
  • Develop frontend components
  • Develop backend services
  • Integrate APIs
  • Connect database
  • Perform code reviews

Example

Frontend Development:

  • Login Form
  • Restaurant Listing

  • Cart Interface
    Backend Development:

  • User Authentication

  • Order Management

  • Payment Processing
    Outcome

  • Working Software Modules

  • Source Code

  • Integrated Application Components

5. Testing

Testing is the process of verifying and validating the software to ensure that it functions correctly and meets the specified requirements. Testers identify defects, bugs, and performance issues before the software is released.
Why?
Testing ensures software quality, reliability, security, and performance. It helps prevent defects from reaching end users and ensures that the application works as expected.
Who?

  • QA Engineers
  • Test Engineers
  • Automation Testers
  • Developers (Unit Testing) How?
  • Unit Testing
  • Integration Testing
  • System Testing
  • Performance Testing
  • User Acceptance Testing (UAT)

Example

Testing the food delivery application:

Test Cases:

  • User Registration
  • User Login
  • Add to Cart
  • Online Payment
  • Order Tracking

Bug Found:

  • Payment fails for transactions above ₹5000.

Developers fix the issue and retest it.

Outcome

  • Tested Software
  • Bug Reports
  • Test Cases
  • Test Summary Reports

6. Deployment

Deployment is the process of releasing the tested software into the production environment where real users can access and use it.
Why?
The software must be deployed so that customers can start using the application and gain value from it.
Who?

  • DevOps Engineers
  • System Administrators

  • Deployment Team
    How?

  • Configure servers

  • Deploy application files

  • Configure cloud services

Example

The food delivery application is deployed to:

  • Production Server
  • Google Play Store
  • Apple App Store

Users can now:

  • Download the application
  • Place food orders
  • Make online payments Outcome
  • Live Production Application
  • Available to End Users
  • Deployment Documentation

7. Maintenance

Maintenance is the phase where the software is continuously monitored, supported, improved, and updated after deployment. Bugs are fixed and new features are added based on user feedback and business requirements.
Why?
No software remains perfect forever. Maintenance ensures that the application continues to function efficiently, remains secure, adapts to changing business needs, and provides a good user experience.
Who?

  • Support Team
  • Developers
  • Maintenance Engineers
  • DevOps Engineers How?
  • Monitor application performance
  • Fix bugs
  • Release updates
  • Improve security
  • Add new features
  • Optimize performance

Example

Users request:

  • Dark Mode
  • Coupon System
  • Faster Restaurant Search Issues Found:
  • App crashes on some Android devices.
  • Search results are slow. The team releases updates and fixes. Outcome
  • Bug Fixes
  • Feature Enhancements
  • Security Updates
  • Improved User Experience
  • Updated Software Versions

Complete SDLC Flow 

Requirements Gathering
        ↓
Planning
        ↓
Design
        ↓
Development
        ↓
Testing
        ↓
Deployment
        ↓
Maintenance
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Project: Food Delivery Application

  • Requirements => Gather customer needs.
  • Planning => Estimate budget, timeline, and resources.
  • Design => Create UI, architecture, and database design.
  • Development => Build the application.
  • Testing => Verify functionality and fix bugs.
  • Deployment => Release to users.
  • Maintenance => Fix issues and add new features.

SDLC is not just writing the code and produce the output, it contains these much of process is divided into 7 phases and from client requirement to deployment to maintenance, here we also consider both technical and non technical factors liked include budget planing and time scheduling and also resource allocation to complete one whole software development

Reference

https://aws.amazon.com/what-is/sdlc/
https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/sdlc
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/software-engineering/software-development-life-cycle-sdlc/

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