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Software Development Life Cycle: Explained

An overview of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC): its stages from planning to maintenance, the origins with Winston Royce, and how Waterfall and Agile methodologies apply it.

Key Takeaways

  • SDLC provides a structured, repeatable process for building software, regardless of the specific methodology chosen.
  • Waterfall offers clarity and simplicity but is poorly suited to changing requirements and late-discovered risks.
  • Agile methodologies like Scrum address Waterfall's shortcomings through iterative cycles, continuous testing, and frequent stakeholder feedback.

What the video covers

  • SDLC is a standardized process describing the stages of building high-quality software and is used as a base for several development models.
  • SDLC originated in the 1970s, with Winston Royce's article 'Managing the Development of Large Software Systems' describing implementation steps similar to today's.
  • The main SDLC stages are planning and analysis (requirements, cost and time estimation, scoping), designing (architecture, technology selection, UX), development (coding), testing (QA for bugs and errors), deployment (release), and maintenance (feedback, updates, support).
  • A prototype is a simplified version of the product used to validate ideas and verify requirements with minimal effort and cost, and it may sit between planning and designing.
  • The Waterfall model follows SDLC stages strictly, with each stage starting only after the previous one finishes, making timelines and deliverables clear and the project easy to manage.
  • Waterfall was borrowed from construction and manufacturing, but it is inflexible: changes in requirements or design require rolling back to the first stage.
  • Late testing in Waterfall can lead to unforeseen risks, blown deadlines, and budget overruns.
  • Agile, written in 2001 by 17 developers as a response to Waterfall, welcomes change and delivers software continuously and early.
  • Agile performs testing at every iteration rather than as a separate phase, reducing late-stage surprises.
  • Scrum, an Agile framework, breaks development into sprints of one to four weeks, with stakeholders reviewing finished product increments at each sprint's end, enabling fast adaptation.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to the Software Development Life Cycle
  2. 01:07Overview of SDLC Methodologies
  3. 02:14Origins of SDLC and Winston Royce
  4. 03:14Planning, Analysis, and Design Stages
  5. 04:18Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance
  6. 05:23Prototyping Between Planning and Design
  7. 06:23The Waterfall Model: Strengths and Drawbacks
  8. 07:29How Agile and Scrum Address Waterfall's Limits

Answers

Questions about this video

What is the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?

SDLC is a standardized process describing the different stages of building high-quality software, from planning through maintenance. It was conceived in the 1970s for large-scale business systems and is used as a base for several development models.

Why did the Waterfall model fall out of favor?

Waterfall is strictly sequential and inflexible: changes in requirements or design require returning to the first stage. Because testing happens late, unforeseen risks can cause blown deadlines and budgets.

How does Agile improve on the Waterfall approach?

Agile performs testing at every iteration rather than as a separate late phase, and uses short cycles such as Scrum sprints of one to four weeks. Frequent stakeholder feedback lets teams adapt quickly without compromising delivery dates.

Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

00:00
Speaker A
how do you decide what your next step on a project is? Let's hope you're not relying on a roll of the dice, especially when the decision concerns something as costly as software development. In that case, we suggest a tried and true method, like the Software Development Life Cycle, or SDLC.
00:14
Speaker A
like the software development life cycle or sdlc it's a standardized process that describes different stages of building highquality software sdlc was conceived in the 1970s as a way of formulating the development of large-scale Business Systems but it prevails today as a
00:31
Speaker A
It's a standardized process that describes different stages of building high-quality software. SDLC was conceived in the 1970s as a way of formulating the development of large-scale business systems, but it prevails today as a reminder of what stages a product goes through on the way to, we hope, eventual success.
00:45
Speaker A
methodologies applying [Music] them the father of the software development life cycle was a computer scientist and a director at Lockheed software Technology Center in Austin when instant wroy in his influential article managing the development of large software systems he described implementation
01:07
Speaker A
There are many methodologies addressing this sequence of stages that you might have heard of, so today we will talk about the phases of SDLC and the methodologies applying them.
01:27
Speaker A
stage the product team collects business and use requirements about what the final product must do and how it should work cost and time estimation scoping and other planning activities all go here this is such an extensive phase that we have several videos covering
01:43
Speaker A
[Music]
01:58
Speaker A
systems describing what components on go where and how they interact with one another they will also select a technology for development user experience and visual design can also be drafted at this stage clearly without this stage the following one can't
02:14
Speaker A
The father of the software development life cycle was a computer scientist and a director at Lockheed Software Technology Center in Austin. When Winston Royce, in his influential article "Managing the Development of Large Software Systems," described implementation steps that are similar to what we use today.
02:28
Speaker A
stakeholders then testing more quality assurance takes place testers and QA professionals review the products code and useability for bugs and errors so they can be fixed before the next stage deployment is when the product is released to the
02:43
Speaker A
There are generally six stages of software development covered in SDLC. Planning and Analysis: it's sometimes also called requirement analysis or a feasibility analysis, as a separate stage before or after planning. All in all, at this prolonged stage, the product team collects business and user requirements about what the final product must do and how it should work. Cost and time estimation, scoping, and other planning activities all go here. This is such an extensive phase that we have several videos covering software planning, so make sure to check them out after this one.
03:00
Speaker A
prototype is a simplified version of the product used to validate the idea before any major work begins it doesn't even have to be coded the design can be used to receive feedback from stakeholders and users a prototype is the best way to
03:14
Speaker A
Second is designing. After the planning stage, you prepare the product's architecture and design. Here, a software architect analyzes the requirements and sets the high-level structure of the future system, describing what components go where and how they interact with one another. They will also select a technology for development. User experience and visual design can also be drafted at this stage. Clearly, without this stage, the following one can't happen.
03:31
Speaker A
develop after that you test and then release a product but by itself sdlc is just a concept and it's used as a base for several models you apply that will give your project Clarity and help deliver the best results so what are
03:48
Speaker A
The next phase, development, is a stage where programmers use the architect's design to write code that will finally turn the vision into a real thing. This is where some aspects of the final product will be first revealed to stakeholders.
04:03
Speaker A
timeline due dates and deliverables are clearly set the waterfall model was borrowed from the construction and Manufacturing Industries where it makes total sense you need to wait for the blueprints before laying any bricks this model is very straightforward and well
04:18
Speaker A
Then testing. Quality assurance takes place. Testers and QA professionals review the product's code and usability for bugs and errors so they can be fixed before the next stage.
04:32
Speaker A
opposite of flexible whenever you need to make a change in requirements or design you need to roll back to stage one and do the whole cycle all over again what if at the Finish Line you've identified some unforeseen risks that
04:45
Speaker A
Deployment is when the product is released to the users. Sometimes this stage is combined with the following one, maintenance, where feedback is constantly gathered and the product receives continuous updates and support. This includes both fixes and new features.
05:05
Speaker A
agile Manifesto which was written by 17 software developers in 2001 was a direct response to the heavyweight waterfall methodology among its 12 principles there are calls to welcome change even in late development stages and to deliver software continuously and early
05:22
Speaker A
Sometimes there's a prototyping stage between planning and designing. A prototype is a simplified version of the product used to validate the idea before any major work begins. It doesn't even have to be coded. The design can be used to receive feedback from stakeholders and users. A prototype is the best way to verify requirements with minimal effort and costs.
05:38
Speaker A
Cycles Sprints Sprints are considered to be part of the scrum development framework and they are short periods of time typically lasting from 1 to 4 weeks at each Sprint cycle the team Works through all stages at the end of the Sprint the
05:52
Speaker A
So the number of phases and their titles can differ depending on the specifics of the project or a particular methodology, but a common understanding remains the same: you start with a plan, then you design and develop, after that you test, and then release a product. But by itself, SDLC is just a concept, and it's used as a base for several models you can apply that will give your project clarity and help deliver the best results.
06:06
Speaker A
to planning or more specifically to documentation one of the main values listed in the agile Manifesto says working software over comprehensive documentation but the assumption that agile teams use little to no docs is wrong in waterfall the idea was to
06:23
Speaker A
So what are they? Waterfall was the first software development approach, described in Royce's article back in the 1970s, and it adheres strictly to the SDLC stages. The main idea is that each stage starts only after the previous one is finished. The timeline, due dates, and deliverables are clearly set. The waterfall model was borrowed from the construction and manufacturing industries, where it makes total sense: you need to wait for the blueprints before laying any bricks. This model is very straightforward and well defined, and the team can focus on just one phase at each point in time, so the project is easier to manage. But today it's fallen out of favor in the engineering world. Why? The main reason is that it's the opposite of flexible. Whenever you need to make a change in requirements or design, you need to roll back to stage one and do the whole cycle all over again. What if, at the finish line, you've identified some unforeseen risks that should have been mitigated during planning? When testing happens so late in the process, and stages don't overlap, it inevitably leads to blown deadlines and budgets.
06:41
Speaker A
enough yes this is a real term in agile plus it must be a collaborative effort where a tech writer asks the team for feedback and encourages others to share their ideas if you want to learn more about documentation types and how
06:54
Speaker A
So in modern software development, a different approach is used. Today, agile philosophy reigns. The Agile Manifesto, which was written by 17 software developers in 2001, was a direct response to the heavyweight waterfall methodology. Among its 12 principles are calls to welcome change, even in late development stages, and to deliver software continuously and early.
07:13
Speaker A
though they existed before the agile Manifesto was formulated they now fall under the agile umbrella each framework has its best applications and specific tool set apart from the aforementioned scrum there's a lean methodology that focuses on eliminating waste and at its
07:29
Speaker A
Agile solved the waterfall drawbacks in a few ways. Firstly, the testing phase isn't separate from the building phase; rather, it's done at every iteration. For example, in Scrum, one of the frameworks based on agile, development is broken down into smaller cycles called sprints. Sprints are short periods of time, typically lasting from one to four weeks. At each sprint cycle, the team works through all stages. At the end of the sprint, the finished piece of product is shown to stakeholders. The short feedback loop allows developers to adapt quickly and find new approaches faster without compromising the delivery date.
07:44
Speaker A
product succeeds and learn drawing conclusions and deciding how you refine your product for the next Loop another framework called Extreme programming or XP uses the usual life cycle but emphasizes the technical aspect of development it uses such practices as test driven
08:02
Speaker A
Another key change that agile brought to the development life cycle is the approach to planning, or more specifically, to documentation. One of the main values listed in the Agile Manifesto says "working software over comprehensive documentation," but the assumption that agile teams use little to no docs is wrong. In waterfall, the idea was to create detailed documentation covering project goals and the working process, as well as precise budget and time estimates. For agile, where change is welcome, this would be a waste of time. So the idea is to produce only essential docs, that is, just barely good enough. Yes, this is a real term in agile. Plus, it must be a collaborative effort, where a tech writer asks the team for feedback and encourages others to share their ideas. If you want to learn more about documentation types and how they're created, we have a few videos you'll find useful.
08:18
Speaker A
depending on what the team wants or the project requires around 2008 A New Concept emerged from agile that drastically changed how software is built and released today devops is one of the most discussed development approaches employed by such
08:38
Speaker A
While originally agile was more of a philosophy, today it has loads of specific tools and techniques. Such frameworks as Scrum, Lean, Extreme Programming, or Kanban are also classified as agile approaches, even though some existed before the Agile Manifesto was formulated. They now fall under the agile umbrella. Each framework has its best applications and specific toolset. Apart from the aforementioned Scrum, there's a Lean methodology that focuses on eliminating waste, and at its core is a feedback loop for testing your assumptions. It consists of three recurrent steps: build, which basically means drafting some version of the product, such as an MVP; measure, meaning collecting feedback and evaluating if this version of the product succeeds; and learn, drawing conclusions and deciding how you refine your product for the next loop. Another framework, called Extreme Programming, or XP, uses the usual life cycle but emphasizes the technical aspect of development. It uses such practices as test-driven development, code refactoring, pair programming, and more. Also, Kanban is more of a management method than a framework, since it uses so-called Kanban boards to visualize work for efficiency. There are many more frameworks in the agile development process that can be used depending on what the team wants or the project requires. Around 2008, a new concept emerged from agile that drastically changed how software is b
08:56
Speaker A
apart from one another now they merge into a single team often having multi-disciplinary skills devops life cycle is typically visualized as an infinity loop representing the development processes on the left side and operations on the right side a team
09:12
Speaker A
collaborates and communicates throughout each phase we have a whole separate video covering devops and a video series about all devops aspects you need to know so check it out after this one what's important is that devops uses typical agile planning the product
09:29
Speaker A
development has rough objectives outlined and only the few future Sprints are detailed so while agile is focused on identifying features that users will like devops make sure that existing processes are optimized and streamlined to do that devops uses CI
09:46
Speaker A
CD continuous integration and continuous delivery or cicd is a set of principles that allow developers to deliver frequent code changes it means that teams integrate code on a daily or even an hourly basis by merging code changes in a central repository and preparing
10:04
Speaker A
for deployment at any moment basically all changes new features and Bug fixes are always ready to be deployed and the product can be updated multiple times per day continuously delivering value to users HubSpot shared that they add 200
10:19
Speaker A
to 300 deployments a day using cicd Netflix orchestrates over 20,000 deployments daily in 2022 11% of organiz Iz ation were considered high devops performers and deployed 417 more times than low performers this is of course achieved by high levels of Automation
10:40
Speaker A
and the infrastructure that connects all aspects of product delivery and a unified ecosystem although cicd facilitates agile practices such as getting feedback quickly and detecting errors in the early stages it doesn't require short iterations and introduces automation to
10:57
Speaker A
the development life cycle even in agile introducing product changes can be a long process especially today when technological innovations happen so fast and consumer needs change easily so cicd solves this problem by adapting in a short amount of time without disrupting
11:15
Speaker A
the whole development flow and consumers get to see the new features added in real time and provide their feedback instantly for 60 years the phases of the software development life cycle remained relatively unchanged regardless of whether you're building a house a rocket
11:31
Speaker A
ship or an app you will need to plan design build test deploy and maintain the product what matters is the relations between these phases now when testers and devs collaborate or are even capable of doing the same job you don't
11:46
Speaker A
need to separate those tasks much automation tools made it possible to do many things at the same time and shrink the cycle to days and hours agile and many models and approaches that spurted from it have remained relevant for
12:00
Speaker A
decades perhaps they will last another decade or maybe a new hip technology will show us a more efficient way to follow the product development path regardless we will keep you updated let us know if you enjoyed the video like And subscribe if you want
12:15
Speaker A
more videos like this we'll see you soon in the next [Music] video yeah
Topics:Software Development Life CycleSDLCWaterfall modelAgileScrumsprintssoftware testingprototypingsoftware architecturesoftware planning

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