Software Life Cycle Phases
The software development life cycle is a project management concept that segments an application development project into smaller phases. When each phase is completed chronologically, the project is more easily managed and is more likely to be completed on time, within scope and according to specifications. The six phases of the software life cycle are planning, design, development, testing, implementation, and maintenance.
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Phase One: Planning
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Requirements gathering is key to the planning phase. The planning phase involves gathering requirements that detail how the software should function. This includes documenting the needs of the business areas that will use the software.
Phase Two: Design
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The design phase of the software life cycle produces a blueprint for developers. During the design phase, the requirements gathered from the planning stage are crafted into an application blueprint that will instruct the developer how to create the software.
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Phase Three: Development
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In the development phase, programmers will write the code that runs the application. At this stage, programmers write all of the code necessary to make the application work according to specification. The conclusion of the Development phase means the software is now a completed application ready to be tested.
Phase Four: Testing
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Users must test the software and provide their acceptance approval. The Testing phase involves two steps. The first is testing the system to ensure that functionality meets what is expected and intended. The second is to conduct user acceptance testing (UAT), where the system end users confirm that the software meets their functional needs.
Phase Five: Implementation
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After the software is thorougly tested, it will be implemented in a production environment. After the end users have approved the software through UAT, the system can be implemented. This implementation phase involves installing the software in a production environment.
Phase Six: Maintenance
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Maintenance phase involves support for the application. The maintenance phase is the final phase and includes continual support throughout the life of the application. It also involves fixing the software when it breaks and reacting to situations that require an adjustment or enhancement to the application.
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References
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