{"id":61275,"date":"2022-03-21T15:11:37","date_gmt":"2022-03-21T20:11:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/?p=61275"},"modified":"2026-04-28T14:47:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T19:47:15","slug":"sdlc-the-software-development-life-cycle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/blog\/sdlc-the-software-development-life-cycle","title":{"rendered":"SDLC \u2013 The Software Development Life Cycle"},"content":{"rendered":"

Software Development projects can feel overwhelming.<\/strong> But when you break down large chunks of the work into smaller pieces, suddenly it\u2019s manageable. That\u2019s basically what any project management methodology is all about. The whole project, from start to finish, is evenly divided into phases. The software development life cycle (SDLC) is how it\u2019s done in software development. Let\u2019s define it, look at different models and the best way to manage SDLC.<\/p>\n

What Is the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?<\/h2>\n

The software development life cycle (SDLC) is a process by which software is developed and deployed. It\u2019s a process that encompasses every phase of software creation, from conception to maintenance after the software is released.<\/p>\n

There are a variety of methodologies to manage your software development life cycle, including waterfall, agile<\/a> and other models. Teams select a specific methodology with the goal of producing their software as quickly and as cheaply as possible without sacrificing quality. This is achieved by choosing the right SDLC model for the context of your software development life cycle.<\/p>\n

SDLC Phases<\/h2>\n

Regardless of the SDLC methodology that you choose, there are consistent SDLC phases that should be followed in order to successfully complete a deliverable for the client. The name of the phases might vary, but the following list summarizes the core functions of typical SDLC phases.<\/p>\n

Project management software helps you manage every phase of the project. ProjectManager<\/a> is cloud-based work and project management software that has interactive Gantt charts that break larger projects into phases that reflect the project\u2019s life cycle. Gantts are great for organizing tasks, linking dependencies and creating milestones. Our Gantt goes further, filtering for the critical path and then allowing you to set a baseline to track your progress when you execute the project. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.<\/p>\n

\"ProjectManager's<\/a>
ProjectManager’s boards and multiple project views help manage software development projects. Learn More!<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. Requirements Gathering & Analysis<\/h3>\n

Understand the proposal put forth by the customer, and then gather their requirements<\/a> for a suitable solution. Be sure to probe as much as possible to gather as much information as you can at this stage. This phase is heavily documented so that developers can revisit requirements at any time.<\/p>\n

2. Planning & Designing<\/h3>\n

This is when you elaborate on a project plan<\/a> for meeting those requirements laid out by the customer. Once you have a plan, design concrete specifications for the developers to utilize, like screen layouts and other materials. During this phase, you need to analyze the problem in the context of the organization\u2019s policies and objectives.<\/p>\n

3. Building<\/h3>\n

During this phase, the actual code is constructed. This can be done by a single developer, a larger team or even several teams depending on the scope<\/a> of the work. Developers will need to track changes to the code and, if there are different teams working together, that they\u2019re able to know what the others are doing. Changes should be documented, either formally or informally.<\/p>\n

In distributed setups, such as remote software development in Poland<\/a>, Mexico, etc., thorough documentation helps maintain a shared understanding of the codebase.<\/p>\n

4. Testing<\/h3>\n

Now that the code has been written, it\u2019s time to test. Usually, this is done in a special environment, so the team can check for bugs and other mistakes without being distracted by too many variables. To create this environment, software development teams need to create a test case<\/a>, a document that specifies the conditions under which software features will be tested to confirm that they’re working as intended.<\/p>\n

Our test case template<\/a> can help you as you go through the software testing process.<\/p>\n

5. Deployment<\/h3>\n

After all known errors have been eliminated, the software is deployed. This is when the product is actually put into production and released in a business environment.<\/p>\n

6. Maintenance<\/h3>\n

During the maintenance phase, the software is maintained so that it stays effective and relevant. Tweaks can be made to the initial software so that it remains a viable solution that is free of bugs.<\/p>\n

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Software Development Plan Template<\/h3>\n

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