4/17/2023
Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) - Development Phase
Once you have gathered all the requirements and created a functional and technical design, the logical step is to develop the solution. The development phase in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is where the rubber meets the road, and as I always say, S.H.I.T just got real. From an idea to a solution, let's explore the various activities in the development phase.
Software Development Lifecycle
(SDLC) - Development Phase
Table of Contents
- Build the Software
- Every Actor Plays Their Role
- Assignment of Work in Small Units
- Completion of Units
- Deliver the Units
- Unit Testing and Automation
- Conclusion
- Next phase in SDLC
Activities in the Development Phase
In the development phase, various activities combine to transform ideas and designs into functional software solutions. In the development phase, team collaboration, task allocation, and effective communication are essential for creating high-quality software products. Let's dive into the core activities during this crucial phase.
Build the Software
There are no secrets here; the goal is to build the software or product. That was the whole idea you started with. Whatever you need to develop the software needs to happen at this level.
Every Actor Plays Their Role
In the development phase, your various resources, depending on their skill levels, will do their best to create the final product based on the design.
Assignment of Work in Small Units
As there are people with different skills and availability, all your work is split into smaller units and assigned to them to complete. For example, a UI/UX designer will create a stunning, functional design; a programmer will write code to make the software work. Development may even drill down further to the level of individual programs or screens. A database admin will ensure the database structure is correctly set, and your DevOps professional will ensure your deployments happen smoothly.
Completion of Units
Of course, you and your entire team are working on completing the software. The software will be completed if all those small work units are correctly implemented.
Deliver the Units
Once completed, these units are usually delivered so that they go through quality checks.
Unit Testing and Automation
One form of quality check is unit testing, where you individually test each unit in isolation.
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Why should we Automate Unit Testing in SDLC?
Why automate unit testing if you're already doing it manually? Well, there are multiple reasons: they can be repeated any number of times. Plus, a previously passing unit-tested piece may stop working due to changes made for another unit. With automated unit tests, we can run them all at once, and all our code is tested simultaneously.
Conclusion
The development phase is crucial for transforming ideas and designs into functional software solutions. Collaboration among different roles, assignment of work in small units, and thorough unit testing (including automation) contribute to the creation of a high-quality software product. Embrace these practices to make the most of the development phase in your Software Development Live Cycle (SDLC).
The Next phase in the SDLC
Once your development is completed, you will move to the next phase in your Software development lifecycle and that is the testing Phase