The term software development lifecycle (SDLC) is frequently used in technology to refer to the entire process of technology innovation and support. We give other similar terms below.
Systems development lifecycle
The abbreviation SDLC can sometimes refer to the systems development lifecycle, the process for planning and creating an IT system. The system typically consists of several hardware and software components that work together to perform complex functions.
Software development lifecycle compared to systems development lifecycle
The software development lifecycle addresses only the development and testing of software components. On the other hand, system development is a broader superset involving the setup and management of the software, hardware, people, and processes that can make up a system. It can include tasks like organizational training and change management policies that don’t fall under the software development umbrella.
Application lifecycle management
Application lifecycle management (ALM) is the creation and maintenance of software applications until they are no longer required. It involves multiple processes, tools, and people working together to manage every lifecycle aspect, such as ideation, design and development, testing, production, support, and eventual redundancy.
SDLC compared to ALM
SDLC describes the application development phase in greater detail. It is a part of ALM. ALM includes the entire lifecycle of the application and continues beyond SDLC. ALM can have multiple SDLCs during an application's lifecycle.