Key Software Product Development Life Cycle Steps You Need to Know

Evolving technology has put forth newer ways of software product development. Many software developers have embraced these ways to ensure that the end product can meet user requirements and business objectives. Be it development or testing, advanced software product development methods enable developers to make changes in the product rapidly.

In this post, we will delve into the steps and methodologies of software product development lifecycle. However, it is necessary to understand this concept before seeing its importance in modern enterprises.

Understanding of Software Product Development Life Cycle

Software product development is about creating a new product with some new features to enhance its value. A software product can be anything ranging from building a new product from scratch or upgrading the existing one. The software development company aims to give users a better experience and bring change in market trends.

The software product development lifecycle is a chain of various methodical and steady processes that has several phases or standard procedures. Dedicated software developers can integrate a set of features and third-party tools during the software product development life cycle. It can upgrade the existing systems and methods to enhance the customer experience.

Let’s go through the importance of the software product development life cycle.

Importance of Software Product Development Life Cycle

Simply put, the software development life cycle (SDLC) is a structured process that helps developers deliver high-quality products on time and cost-effectively. The lifecycle includes a series of phases, each with specific goals and deliverables. This helps to ensure well-planned execution of the project with a proactive approach in resolving issues or removing bugs.

We can mention many benefits of following the SDLC, including:

• Meets the needs of target users

• Reduces risk of project failure

• Enhances collaboration between team members

• Ensures timely development within budget

• Improves quality and customer satisfaction

If you're planning to develop a software product, it is better to consult a reputed software development company to know the role of SDLC in achieving your goals.

Let’s dig deep into the steps included in the product development life cycle.

Nine Software Product Development Life Cycle Steps

Software developers need to follow a specific methodology and several predefined steps to transform the client’s idea into a unique solution.

Here we mention the common steps of a software development cycle.

1. Brainstorming or Requirement Analysis

Here entrepreneurs come up with the initial concept for their software product. Software developers need to define your objectives, make a list of features, and brainstorm how you can make your product stand out.

2. Planning

Developers conduct a feasibility study to determine the technical and financial viability of the project. Companies need to create a product roadmap and identify potential risks as well in their blueprint.

3. Proof of Concept

PoC or Proof of Concept is a small-scale prototype of the software product that the software development company can use to validate the client’s idea and identify any potential problems in it.

4. Designing

Here, a team consisting of software designers and developers can create detailed software architecture and design documents. This step includes the creation of prototypes and final mockups of the product.

5. Proof of Value

PoV or Proof of Value is a more in-depth analysis of the value of a particular software product to the company. Here, it is necessary to identify the target market, estimate potential revenue, and assess the competition.

6. Development

It is a crucial step where software developers will write the code for a product. They'll need to ensure that the code is clean, efficient, and compliant with the client’s business requirements and other aspects.

7. Integration

The QA team in the software development company will test the software to ensure its seamless performance. The team performs a variety of tests including functionality, user acceptance, and system integration testing.

8. Deployment

Usually, this is known as the final stage in the software product development life cycle. Many development companies include the release and maintenance of software on an ongoing basis as per the project needs.

9. Upgradation

Many enterprises opt for regular improvement of the software product based on changing requirements and market trends. This stage includes the addition of new features, performance improvements, and bug fixing.

A specific methodology is necessary while following all these steps in software product development. Let’s dig deep into these four popular methodologies.

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Four Popular Software Product Development Methodologies

We take only four popular methodologies for the product development life cycle out of many options available.

• Waterfall

It is a sequential approach to software development. It requires completing each step in the process before the next step can begin. The Waterfall model is best suited for projects where the requirements are well-defined and the scope of the project is relatively small. It consists of different consecutive steps including conception, initiation, analysis, design, development, testing, implementation, and maintenance.

• Agile

This methodology is an iterative approach to software development. As per this approach, the project is broken down into small, manageable chunks, and software developers process and test each chunk in a short sprint. This allows for the project to be more adaptable to change, and the software development company can complete the project more quickly than the same with the waterfall model.

• DevOps

As one of the most popular methods, DevOps is a combination of development and operations. It aims to shorten the software product development life cycle and improve quality by bringing together developers, operations engineers, and other stakeholders. DevOps teams work together to automate the software development process and to ensure that software is deployed and released quickly and reliably.

• Scrum

This is a specific type of agile methodology. As a lightweight, pragmatic framework, Scrum helps development teams to deliver software quickly and efficiently. Its design enables developers to adapt rapidly to ever-changing circumstances and user demands with ease. Scrum teams are self-organizing and cross-functional, and they work in short sprints to deliver seamlessly-performing software.

Choosing the right methodology for your software development project is essential for successful development and deployment.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, the software development life cycle has various steps and different methodologies depending on the project requirements, budget, deadlines, and market trends. Here we have shed light on all essential factors necessary to consider for entrepreneurs and software developers alike. You can use this concise guide to choose the right method to avoid product failure.

Silver Touch Technologies is a leading enterprise software development company. Our in-house teams of experienced professionals can thoroughly understand your business model and project requirements to suggest you the most suitable software development methodology. Simply email us at info@silvertouch.com to know more about our enterprise-grade services.

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