How Are Software Programs Developed?

Software development is a hot industry right now, and one that promises to only continue to grow as technology evolves to further infiltrate every aspect of our daily lives. If you are interested in learning more about what it takes to get your foot in the door in the world of software development, then it helps to begin with the basics of software development. 

How are software programs developed? Read on to learn more:

The software development life cycle (SDLC). 

This is a term used to represent the process of developing software, and is also sometimes called the software life cycle or the software process. Really, all of these terms mean the same thing--a structure or framework within which the development of software takes place. There are many different tasks that comprise the software development life cycle; additionally, there are many different methods, or frameworks, for accomplishing those tasks. For example, Spiral and Waterfall are two distinct models, among others, for completing the SDLC. The model any one software developer uses is generally a matter of personal preference. However, the ISO/IEC 12207 is an international procedural guideline that aims to standardize the process worldwide.

Planning. 

During this stage of the process, software developers research and assess the requirements for accomplishing a specific project. Generally speaking, the scope of this phase comprises what the customer wants insofar as an end product or capability, and what the software developer envisions as the solution to what the customer wants.

Implementation. 

Once a plan is devised, software developers write the code that will perform whatever tasks the software is to accomplish. The code is then executed and the results are monitored. At this stage, software developers will go back to the drawing board as often as necessary to revise the code until it is fully functional and efficient. It is tantamount that the entire process is documented, as this information will be used for future software maintenance.

Deployment. 

When the code that is implemented proves to be satisfactory, it is deployed as a software program. This is the phase in which the customer actually receives and uses the end product. An imperative aspect of deployment is the ongoing process of maintenance, which entails making necessary changes to the software as bugs are identified and technology advances.


As you can see, software development is a complex process that requires a definitive set of steps. Even though there are many ways in which these steps may be accomplished, there is no getting around any single phase of the software development life cycle.

Author Bio:
Eric Steele is a software development specialist. If you're intersted in having something built for your company, check out our products and compare all of your options, from design to testing.