The SDLC, better known as the Software Development Life Cycle, is a term which is used to describe the development of software. In many cases, when companies and firms work with or develop new hardware, they will make the decision to outsource the work, and this will play an important role in the implementation of the software.

The SDLC Models

There are a number of different SDLC models available, and they are designed by experts who specialize in software development. Fresh SDLC models are being introduced all the time, and they will often come in the form of fresh research or technology. Some of the newest SDLC models are Extreme Programming as well as Agile Development.

Despite this, the oldest and most popular SDLC model is referred to as being the Waterfall Model. The key factor which makes this model distinct is the sequential steps which are used for both maintenance and the analysis of requirements. While this is the SDLC model which is the most commonly used, it has a number of disadvantages.

Once you have collected together the necessary project requirements for phase one, there is not a way in which you can make modifications during the development cycles which are much longer. This means that whatever is implemented near the end of the process could become obsolete.

What this means is that the waterfall model is a bad SDLC model to use for projects which have requirements that are not well understood, particularly by the entire team. In addition to this, the Waterfall Model might not be good for any project which is deemed as being highly complex, or where it could take months for the project to be completed.

However, there are some projects which are excellent candidates for the Waterfall model. These include any projects which have requirements that are simple to understand, and which are defined very well. Another type of model which is quite popular is the Spiral model.

The Spiral SDLC Model

The Spiral model was developed in response to the many weaknesses that have been found within the Waterfall Model. With the Spiral Model, the team will begin with a lower collection of requirements, and will go through each phase of development based on these requirements.

 Due to the lesson gained from the beginning iteration, the team which is responsible for development will combine functionality with numerous requirements for spirals which increase continually, up until the point where the application has become prepared for not just the installation phase, but the maintenance phase as well. Every iteration that occurs before the production will essentially be a prototype for the application.

The biggest advantage that the Spiral Model has is that it uses an iterative approach, and this means that the development process can start even in situations where the system requirements are not understood, or are completely unknown to the team.

Once every prototype has been successfully tested, the feedback from the user will be utilized for the purpose of making sure the project is right on schedule. The risk analysis is crucial because it offers a formal way for ensuring that the project can stay on track, even in those situations where the requirements are altered.

The Top Down SDLC Model

Should fresh methods of requirements for business deem the project as being unnecessary, it can simply be canceled before a large number of resources become wasted. Within the contemporary business environment, the Spiral Model is favored heavily, even over the Waterfall Model.

An excellent scenario for usage of the Waterfall Model includes the implementation of a client support system via the Internet. The Spiral Model would give the team the ability to construct domain experience with the application, and it would occur with each iteration. The next model which has become wildly popular in recent years is the Top Down Model.

The Top Down Model was first introduced in the 1970s by IBM, and many of the concepts found within this model have been used with other models like the Waterfall as well as the Spiral Model. When it comes to a strong Top Down model, a number of critical documents were discussed, and programs are constructed to make sure these requirements are properly met.