Moving forward towards the Manual testing tutorial course, now it’s time to learn the core part. That is SDLC. SDLC stands for Software Development Life Cycle.
It is a step-by-step process followed by software companies and developers to design, develop, test, and deliver high-quality software.
Think of it like building a house:
First, you plan it, then design it, then build it, test if everything works (water, electricity, etc.), and finally hand it over to the owner.
Similarly, in software, you plan, design, build, test, and deliver.
The Main Phases of SDLC:
| Phase | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Requirement Gathering | Understand and collect what the customer wants from the software (features, needs, etc.). |
| 2. Planning | Make a plan for how to develop the software (timeline, cost, resources). |
| 3. Design | Create a blueprint of the software (how it will look, how it will work internally). |
| 4. Development | Actual coding happens here. Developers build the software. |
| 5. Testing | Testers check the software to find and fix any bugs or issues. |
| 6. Deployment | Software is delivered to users (made live). |
| 7. Maintenance | After release, the software may need updates, bug fixes, or improvements. |
Why is SDLC important?
- It helps deliver high-quality software.
- It reduces risks and mistakes.
- It ensures the project is completed on time and within budget.
- Everyone (developers, testers, clients) understands what is happening.
Great! To understand SDLS better way , I have prepared an example to use simple real-life SDLC flowchart for building a Food Delivery App:
START
↓
Requirement Gathering
↓
- Talk to restaurant owners
- Talk to customers
- Define must-have features (order, pay, track delivery)
↓
Design
↓
- Create wireframes (screen mockups)
- Design database (users, orders, restaurants)
- Choose technology (Flutter for app, Node.js for backend)
↓
Development
↓
- Developers code login, restaurant menus, payment gateway
- Backend APIs are built for order tracking
↓
Testing
↓
- QA team tests app
- Bugs found (e.g., slow payment screen, incorrect restaurant location)
- Developers fix bugs
↓
Deployment
↓
- Launch app on Play Store / App Store
- Release backend to cloud server (e.g., AWS)
↓
Maintenance
↓
- Monitor app performance
- Update app with new features (e.g., coupon codes, real-time tracking)
- Fix bugs from user feedback
↓
END
📊 Here’s a flowchart visual version:
[Requirement Gathering]
↓
[Design]
↓
[Development]
↓
[Testing]
↓
[Deployment]
↓
[Maintenance]
↓
[End]
✅ In short:
- First talk and gather requirements
- Then design the solution
- Build the app
- Test and fix mistakes
- Launch the app
- Keep improving after launch
I hope that now you understand the what is SDLC software development life cycle methodology.