SDLC is a framework defining tasks performed at each step in the software development process.

It is performed by the senior members of the team with inputs from the customer, the sales department, market surveys and domain experts in the industry. This information is then used to plan the basic project approach and to conduct product feasibility study in the economical, operational and technical areas.

The outcome of the technical feasibility study is to define the various technical approaches that can be followed to implement the project successfully with minimum risks.

Documenting of the stage 1.

SRS (Software Requirement Specification) document which consists of all the product requirements to be designed and developed during the project life cycle.

This DDS is reviewed by all the important stakeholders to select the best design.

Based on the requirements specified in SRS, usually more than one design approach for the product architecture is proposed and documented in a DDS - Design Document Specification.

In this stage of SDLC the actual development starts and the product is built. The programming code is generated as per DDS during this stage.

This stage refers to the testing only stage of the product where product defects are reported, tracked, fixed and retested, until the product reaches the quality standards defined in the SRS.

The product is released formally. It may first be released in a limited segment and tested in the real business environment (UAT- User acceptance testing). After the product is released in the market, its maintenance is done.

Following are the most important and popular SDLC models followed in the industry:

• Waterfall Model
• Iterative Model
• Spiral Model
• V-Model
• Big Bang Model

Other related methodologies are Agile Model, RAD Model, Rapid Application Development and Prototyping Models.

• SDLC - Overview