2025/05/29
In the digital era, whether it's a startup or a large enterprise, the key to successful software development lies in the design and execution of the process. Understanding the correct software development lifecycle can significantly improve product quality, reduce project risks, and accelerate development speed. This article deeply analyzes each stage of a professional software development process and offers practical industry insights and recommendations to help companies or development teams establish an efficient and stable development system.
The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a structured set of steps used to plan, build, test, and deploy software.
It is like a blueprint for constructing a building, helping the team clearly understand how to execute every step from requirements gathering to product launch. The ultimate goal is to create software that “solves real problems,” “operates reliably,” and “can be maintained over the long term.”
Common keywords in the software development process include requirement analysis, system design, coding, testing & verification, deployment, and maintenance & optimization.
This is the starting point of the entire software development process. Successful software is never just about “writing features,” but about “solving real problems.”
What to do in this stage:
Tip: Using tools like Miro, Notion, Figma, or Draw.io to create flowcharts and prototypes helps everyone align quickly.
Transforming requirements into technical specifications and system architecture.
What to do in this stage:
Recommended design principles: SOLID, KISS, DRY, YAGNI — these improve maintainability and scalability.
Start writing code and unit tests officially.
What to do in this stage:
Development tip: Leverage AI tools like GitHub Copilot to boost efficiency, but always perform professional reviews.
A crucial phase to enhance system stability and reliability.
What to do in this stage:
Advice: Testing should progress in parallel with development, not as an afterthought.
When the product is ready for real users.
What to do in this stage:
Development is not the end—long-term maintenance and performance optimization are even more important.
What to do in this stage:
Aspect | Waterfall Development | Agile Development |
---|---|---|
Process | Linear phase execution | Rapid iterative cycles |
Handling changes | Difficult to adjust | More flexible |
Documentation | Detailed and comprehensive | Minimal documentation |
Suitable for | Clear specs and stable requirements | Changing needs, MVP projects |
In practice, most companies adopt a hybrid model—using Waterfall for stable planning and Agile for iterative improvements.
Mistake | Solution |
---|---|
Unclear requirements | Introduce user story mapping and redesign interview processes |
Disconnected dev & QA | Establish synchronized QA testing and automated tests |
Messy version control | Adopt Gitflow and enforce code reviews |
Lack of documentation | Use Confluence or Notion as knowledge bases |
AI tools (e.g., Copilot, ChatGPT) are reshaping development logic:
The future software development process will emphasize “human + machine” collaboration.
The software development process is both a project management methodology and a quality assurance mechanism. The clearer the process, the more it reduces risks and improves communication efficiency.
If you’re looking for a process suited to your team or want to optimize an existing workflow, design your SDLC systematically from requirement analysis through maintenance, and tailor it to your team culture and technical capabilities.
The software development process is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but having a defined process is essential—otherwise, projects risk delays and rework. Building your own SDLC is truly the first step toward stable and efficient development.