A software development process organizes the work needed to create and maintain software. This lesson introduces the purpose of processes, the system development life cycle (SDLC), and the role of methodologies in guiding development.
A software development process prescribes how to carry out work involved in developing software. It usually divides a large effort into smaller steps or sub-processes. These steps can help teams coordinate work and produce results that meet expectations for quality.
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What is a software development process?
An organized set of activities or steps for developing software; it may specify expected deliverables.
What does SDLC mean?
System development life cycle; it describes the typical phases a system passes through from its beginning to its end of life.
What is a software development methodology?
A prescribed way of organizing work as a system moves through its life-cycle phases.
How are the project life cycle and SDLC different?
The project life cycle covers the project as a whole; the SDLC focuses on realizing product requirements.
What distinguishes iterative from sequential development?
Sequential development proceeds through phases in order; iterative development revisits activities or progressively improves the product.
Quiz questions
Which description best fits the waterfall model?Answer: Development moves through ordered phases, each building on the previous phase's results.
What does ISO/IEC 12207 describe?Answer: Methods for selecting, implementing, and monitoring a software life cycle.
Which statement characterizes agile software development?Answer: It is a family of iterative frameworks emphasizing collaboration and responsiveness to change.
Which phases organize the Unified Process?Answer: Inception, elaboration, construction, and transition.