6 Stages of Software Development

The complete technical set of manipulations that software development goes through, from the creation of an idea to the moment of the official release, has 6 main stages. Objectively, the development work cycle is the process of creating a software product. There are many website development services on the market today, but they need to be sorted out.

It is worth noting that there are several models of the work cycle: phased, spiral, variable and direct. Any model characterizes only the order of actions, logic, and interaction of stages, but not the essence of the process itself.

So, the development work cycle includes 6 basic stages, each of which is performed after the logical completion of the current one.

Contents

1. Define Software Requirements

The value of the first stage is that it directly affects the complexity of the finished product. The higher the requirements, the more difficult the development process will be. The prepared data determines the basic characteristics of the software:

  • Purpose, functionality, and software options.
  • Requirements for order executors: qualification, experience, level, and availability of an appropriate portfolio.
  • Possible risks in testing and deployment.
  • Implementation model: the sequence and logic of the execution of each stage.
  • Budgeting and staff motivation.
  • Technical documentation and project delivery procedure.

At this stage, it is required to form a framework for further relations on the development and delivery of the finished prototype.

2. Technical Documentation

The logical conclusion of the first stage of work is the written documentation of the agreed provisions. Several documents remain the main ones: the terms of reference, the documentation of the finished solution, and the wording of the act of priming the transfer of the software product. Only an experienced business analytics agency can help you draw them up correctly.

Software Development

In practice, documentation is a mutually beneficial insurance tool for both the customer and the contractor. The client will be able to verify the compliance of the finished solution with the agreed requirements, for the contractor the document is needed as a tool to protect their interests, primarily in terms of payment guarantees.

3. Design Development

Appearance is the first thing that the customer and the contractor argue about. Therefore, in reality, you have to create several appearance concepts at once, so that the customer can compare each option and choose the appropriate solution.

4. Front End and Back End Development

As for the Front end components, this includes the entire public part of the software: user interface, page structure, service buttons, banners, everything that a visitor sees when he enters the landing page.

Back end components include software modules hosted on the server-side. Back end development competencies include security systems, control and communication systems, algorithms and action scenarios, integration with the platform, and much more.

5. Testing

When a working prototype is ready, it is important to conduct detailed testing. It is much easier and cheaper to fix bugs on a working instance than to refine the product after the official release when users have already encountered problems. Testing can be carried out with the participation of a focus group of users, when the product is tested on pre-selected participants and without the participation of an operator – that is, only within the development team.

Testing allows you to determine in advance not only possible errors but also the attitude of the target user group to the product, which is very important for the formation of a future promotion strategy.

6. Market Launch and Technical Support

After successful testing, the product can be prepared for the official release. Exit can be phased, when the software is released in a limited version for a narrow circle of consumers, or full, in which the scale of the exit is not limited by any criteria.

When entering the mass market, it is important to carefully monitor the course of events, make timely improvements, updates, and maintain feedback with potential customers. Marketing and technical support is a kind of reliability of the rear. Without high-quality communications, it is problematic to manage the project and influence the formed attitudes.

The basic stages of the software work cycle are the same for all IT products – they are difficult to cut or loop. The difference may appear in the degree of involvement of each stage: in some situations, it is important to focus on testing, in others – on marketing support.