The SDLM process is divided into five stages/phases:
1. Requirements Analysis: The client communicates the application’s scope and functionality to the development team during this phase. Together, both parties identify system requirements that must be met before they can complete project development.
2. Development: This stage involves the actual building and coding of the software. This involves both the client and the development team to create a product that fulfills their requirements.
3. Testing: During this phase, developers test each application component to ensure that it meets business and security objectives. If there are issues during this stage, both parties will revise their work and begin the development process again.
4. Implementation: This phase involves preparing the application for production use. It is also when the client hands over the project to key stakeholders to test it for accuracy and efficiency before releasing it to their customers or users.
5. Maintenance: While this stage is often thought of as part of the initial development process, it has its own life cycle. This phase encompasses all activities performed after the application goes live in production. Some examples include updates, bug fixes, improvements, and patches. These activities take place throughout the software’s lifetime.