What do you understand by life cycle of software development? Explain briefly the various stages of software development life-cycle.

The software development life cycle (SDLC) is a process used to develop software applications. It consists of a series of stages that guide the development team from initial concept to final deployment and maintenance. Here are the various stages of the software development life cycle:

1. Requirements Analysis: In this stage, the development team gathers and analyzes the requirements for the software application. This involves understanding the needs of the end-users and the desired functionality of the application.

2. System Design: Once the requirements are understood, the system design stage focuses on designing the architecture and structure of the software. This includes creating technical specifications, database design, and defining the overall system architecture.

3. Implementation: This is the stage where the actual coding and development of the software take place. Developers write code based on the design specifications and the agreed-upon programming language and technologies.

4. Testing: After the implementation, the software undergoes various testing activities. This includes unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and user acceptance testing. The goal is to identify and fix any bugs or issues before moving to the next stage.

5. Deployment: Once the software is thoroughly tested and deemed stable, it is deployed to the production environment or the end-users. This involves installation, configuration, and setting up the necessary infrastructure to make the software accessible to users.

6. Maintenance: After deployment, the software requires ongoing maintenance and support to ensure its proper functioning. This includes addressing bug fixes, updates, enhancements, and user support.

7. Evaluation: The final stage involves evaluating the software's performance against the initial requirements and objectives. Feedback and user satisfaction are taken into account to identify areas for improvement and to plan for future updates or versions.

These stages in the software development life cycle provide a structured and systematic approach to developing software applications, ensuring that they meet the needs of the users and quality standards.

The software development life cycle (SDLC) refers to the process of designing, creating, testing, and maintaining software systems. It consists of several distinct stages, each with its own goals, activities, and deliverables. Let's go through the different phases of the software development life cycle:

1. Requirements Gathering: In this initial stage, analysts gather and document detailed information about the software requirements, including functionalities, features, and constraints. These requirements are derived through discussions with stakeholders, customers, and users.

2. System Design: Once the requirements are known, the system design phase begins. It involves creating a high-level design document that outlines the architecture, components, and interfaces of the system. This stage also addresses issues such as database design, security, and performance considerations.

3. Development: During this phase, developers start coding the software based on the designs and requirements discussed earlier. They use programming languages and development tools to transform the design into actual software code. The development process may involve multiple iterations and collaboration with other team members.

4. Testing: After completing the development phase, the software moves into the testing phase. Testers perform various types of testing, including unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and user acceptance testing. The goal is to identify and fix any defects or issues in the software before it is deployed.

5. Deployment: Once the software has passed the testing phase, it is ready for deployment. Depending on the project, deployment can involve activities like installation, configuration, and data migration. The software is released to production and made available to end-users.

6. Maintenance and Support: This final phase involves the ongoing support and maintenance of the software. It includes activities such as bug fixing, performance optimization, security updates, and user support. Software maintenance ensures the software remains reliable, secure, and up to date throughout its lifecycle.

It's important to note that various software development methodologies, such as waterfall, agile, or DevOps, may have different variations or additional stages within the SDLC. The actual implementation of the SDLC can vary based on the specific project requirements and organizational processes.