Software Development Lifecycle

Building software involves a well-defined journey, like a roadmap. The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a structured process that guides the development of software systems; it is divided into several key phases to ensure a smooth path from concept to launch. Here’s a brief overview of each phase and some of the software and services Grey Matter offers to support you throughout the process.  

Planning & Analysis: 

This first phase is all about laying the groundwork so that everyone understands what the software needs to do and the processes that need to happen. It involves gathering business requirements from stakeholders and evaluating the feasibility of the project. It sets the stage for the entire lifecycle, defining the scope, resources, timeline, and risks.  

Project management and general business tools can help you facilitate this. For instance, Microsoft 365 (SharePoint, Teams, Excel and Word), MindManager, and JetBrains YouTrack. 

Define Requirements: 

After planning, the next step is to define and document the detailed requirements of the software. This includes what the software will do and how it will perform under various conditions. 

The project management and business software mentioned in the previous phase can also be used to host the information that you document. 

Design:  

In this phase, the software’s architecture and design are developed. This includes high-level system design and detailed design specifications for the individual components. 

Here creative design tools like Adobe and Corel, and web development tools like Sencha and JetBrains WebStorm.

Development: 

Also known as the coding or implementation phase, this is where developers write the code based on the design documents and specifications using an Integrated Developer Environment (IDE) and/or developer tools. This can even be split into three smaller areas:  

• Presentation layer – user interface (UI) tools from web development tools to mapping and geo-location tools 
• Business logic layer – IDEs, compilers, libraries and other developer tools to build the main functionality and backend architecture of the application 
• Data layer - Developers working on business-critical applications need secure and high-performance data connectors, ETL and data integration tools to ensure there are no bottlenecks at the data interface 

Grey Matter offers a vast array of IDEs, UI and developer tools including Aspose, Embarcadero, JetBrains, HERE Technologies, Intel Software, LANSA, Microsoft, Progress, and Quest. 

Testing: 

Once the software is developed, it undergoes rigorous testing to identify and fix any defects. This ensures that the software meets the required standards and behaves as expected. 

SmartBear is one of the main testing vendors we would recommend. 

Deployment: 

After passing the testing phase, the software is deployed to the production environment where it becomes available for end-users to interact with. 

If you're looking for deployment solutions, consider Flexera AdminStudio or Microsoft Azure. 

Maintenance: 

Post-deployment, the software enters the maintenance phase where it is updated, and enhanced, and any new bugs discovered are fixed. This phase continues for the life of the software. 

At this stage, you ensure you’ve implemented other tools and services, including cyber security solutions like patch management, monitoring services, and more. 

Grey Matter has a wide range of cyber security solutions including patch management. Plus, via our services division, Climb Global Services, we can also offer Azure services, such as monitoring. 

Conclusion 

Each phase is crucial and builds upon the previous one to ensure the development of a reliable, efficient, and effective software product. The SDLC can follow different methodologies like Waterfall, Agile, or Spiral, each with its unique approach to these phases. 

Whichever stage you’re in, don’t forget to contact Grey Matter to see how we can support you with everything you need. It saves the procurement hassle too, as you source everything from one place.  

Fill in the contact form below and a member of our team will be in touch to discuss the developer tools product information and pricing in more depth.