Engagement Model
Engagement Model - Mind Spark Technologies
One of the basic notions of the software development process is SDLC models which stand for Software Development Life Cycle models. SDLC – is a continuous process, which starts from the moment, when it’s made a decision to launch the project, and it ends at the moment of its full remove from the exploitation. There is no one single SDLC model. They are divided into main groups, each with its features and weaknesses.
Evolving from the first and oldest “waterfall” SDLC model, their variety significantly expanded. The SDLC models diversity is predetermined by the wide number of product types – starting with a web application development to complex medical software. And if you take one of the SDLC models mentioned below as the basis – in any case, it should be adjusted to the features of the product, project, and company. The most used, popular and important SDLC models are given below:
- Waterfall Model
- Iterative Model
- Agile Model
BASIC STAGES OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE
Each software development life cycle model starts with the analysis, in which the stakeholders of the process discuss the requirements for the final product. The goal of this stage is the detailed definition of the system requirements. Besides, it is needed to make sure that all the process participants have clearly understood the tasks and how every requirement is going to be implemented. Often, the discussion involves the QA specialists who can interfere the process with additions even during the development stage if it is necessary.
At the second phase of the software development life cycle, the developers are actually designing the architecture. All the different technical questions that may appear on this stage are discussed by all the stakeholders, including the customer. Also, here are defined the technologies used in the project, team load, limitations, time frames, and budget. The most appropriate project decisions are made according to the defined requirements.
After the requirements approved, the process goes to the next stage – actual development. Programmers start here with the source code writing while keeping in mind previously defined requirements. The system administrators adjust the software environment; front-end programmers develop the user interface of the program and the logics for its interaction with the server.
The testing phase includes the debugging process. All the code flaws missed during the development are detected here, documented, and passed back to the developers to fix. The testing process repeats until all the critical issues are removed and software workflow is stable.
When the program is finalized and has no critical issues – it is time to launch it for the end users. After the new program version release, the tech support team joins. This department provides user feedback; consult and support users during the time of exploitation. Moreover, the update of selected components is included in this phase, to make sure, that the software is up-to-date and is invulnerable to a security breach.
SDLC MODELS
Waterfall Model
Waterfall – is a cascade SDLC model, in which development process looks like the flow, moving step by step through the phases of analysis, projecting, realization, testing, implementation, and support. This SDLC model includes gradual execution of every stage completely. This process is strictly documented and predefined with features expected to every phase of this software development life cycle model.
Use cases for the Waterfall SDLC model:
- The requirements are precisely documented
- Product definition is stable
- The technologies stack is predefined which makes it not dynamic
- No ambiguous requirements
- The project is short
Iterative SLDC Model
The Iterative SDLC model does not need the full list of requirements before the project starts. The development process may start with the requirements to the functional part, which can be expanded later. The process is repetitive, allowing making new versions of the product for every cycle. Every iteration (which last from two to six weeks) includes the development of a separate component of the system, and after that, this component is added to the functional developed earlier. Speaking with math terminology, the iterative model is a realization of the sequential approximation method; that means a gradual closeness to the planned final product shape.
Use cases for the Iterative SDLC model:
- The requirements to the final product are strictly predefined
- Applied to the large-scale projects
- The main task is predefined, but the details may advance with the time
Agile SDLC Model
In the agile methodology after every development iteration, the customer is able to see the result and understand if he is satisfied with it or he is not. This is one of the advantages of the agile software development life cycle model. One of its disadvantages is that with the absence of defined requirements it is difficult to estimate the resources and development cost. Extreme programming is one of the practical use of the agile model. The basis of such model consists of short weekly meetings – Sprints which are the part of the Scrum approach.
Use cases for the Agile SDLC model:
- The users’ needs change dynamically
- Less price for the changes implemented because of the many iterations
- Unlike the Waterfall model, it requires only initial planning to start the project