What is the product development life cycle in software?

The product development life cycle is a series of consecutive stages that a product goes through. Usually the whole path is divided into four periods - introduction, growth, maturity and decline.

Why is following the SDLC important?

SDLC specifies a detailed plan with steps or phases, each covering its own process and deliverables. It increases development speed and minimizes project risks and costs associated with alternative production methods.

What Are the 7 Phases of SDLC?

The new seven phases of SDLC include planning, analysis, design, development, testing, implementation, and maintenance.

Product Development Life Cycle Management In Tech Company

Curious about the software product development life cycle? Then look no further as we got everything you should know about the life cycle of software. Let’s start with some basic software development life cycle book.

What’s a mobile app cross platform development life cycle? It is a period of time that begins with the decision to create a software product and ends with the moment of its complete withdrawal from service. Simply put:

The concept develops into a marketable product

As a rule, SDLS has 4 main stages:

Entry stage
Growth stage
Maturity stage
Decline stage

However, there are different types of the software life cycle that facilitate the design, development, and release of a high-quality software product.

But how to choose among all of the options? Let’s explore the main methodologies used in the product development lifecycle stages.

#1 Waterfall model (aka cascade)

In this model, each phase of the project is carried out once, in order. To start the next stage, you must finish the previous one.

Pros	Cons
A clear sequence of all project stages	Hard to make clear requirements
Easy to plan the deadlines and resources needed	No way to change requirements
No change of requirements throughout the cycle	Users can’t check the product’s quality until the development process is complete

#2 V-model

This model can help to eliminate the shortcomings of the cascade model, which was used before. This model makes it possible to test processes at all stages so that transitions between levels can occur smoothly.

Pros	Cons
No room for wiggle—strict phasing	Hard to adapt if client’s requirements change
Risks minimization with early testing	Mobile cross platform app developmen takes a long time
Improved time management	No risks analysis

#3 Incremental model

The incremental model of software development is based on a linear sequence of stages, with each stage being divided into several increments (versions). This way of planning software development is more flexible than the cascade method.

Like other software development models, the incremental model is composed of several stages. However, unlike other models, the increments (versions) are created all along the way. This allows you to see product improvements and fixes as they are being made.

Pros	Cons
Client’s feedback is possible for each version of the product	To give iterations functions must be fully defined at the start
Cost and time risks review is possible	Constant changes might break the system’s structure
Gradual implementation of the new technology, so the client doesn’t have a “change shock”	Delivery deadlines might extend if the resources are limited (developers, finances)

#4 Spiral model

In the spiral model, the life cycle of a product under development unwinds in the shape of a spiral, beginning at the planning stage. Each step of development brings us closer to a tested prototype that meets all requirements. After many iterations, we have a finished product that meets all our requirements.

Pros	Cons
Special risk management	Assessment of risks is not cheap
No probs to add extra features later on	Constant client feedback may lead to constant iterations and therefore delay in product development
Possibility of flexible design	Works better for large projects and is less effective for small ones

#5 Agile model

Agile development is a pack of different methods of software development, some of which involve iterative development (e.g, Scrum). Each iteration, or sprint in the product development life cycle Agile, is considered to be a miniature software project. One of Agile’s main ideas is collaboration within the team and directly with customers.

Pros	Cons
No decision-making block thanks to constant communications	Product development increases with a large number of meetings and discussions
Minimization of risks	Harder to plan with constantly changing requirements
Fewer documentation headaches	Rare for large projects

Software Product Development Life Cycle—Full Guide For 2022 - 28

OMIBONUS: Scrum

Scrum is a software development methodology that provides a framework for teams to manage their projects. Clear roles (Scrum Master, Product Owner, Team) allow for a simple distribution of responsibilities in the development process.

The Scrum Master is accountable for the success of the methodology in the project and is the tying component between the team and management.
The Product Owner sets tasks and makes final decisions for the team; they also develop products that customers want.

The Germany software engineer and other members of the team work together in short time periods called sprints. At the end of every Sprint, the team shows the results of it

Pros	Cons
Fast expert feedback	Some people can become indispensable, as documentation isn’t provided during the development process
Testers are involved in the work, so the product can be launched with min functions	You can’t plan ahead, as everything depends on the completion of the previous sprint
Team is fully independent and self-organized	Hard to get for not devs. To understand clients need to do some good “reading”

Software Product Development Life Cycle—Full Guide For 2022 | OmiSoft

As you can see, you’ve got many options for software development models. The choice depends on the specifics and requirements of the particular project and the payment system you like to use. You may notice that some methodologies overlap and are alike, but still, each is loved by almost any cross platform mobile app developer and many clients.

Conclusion

Depending on the size of the product and the detailed study of the technical task, you can choose the most suitable methodology. Product software development is not a suggestion but a necessity for every business. If you feel like you are not in control of the product development life cycle management, you may need to review the chosen development methodology. Write to us, we are waiting for you!

Need help with product development services or have questions about picking the right methodology?

Drop us a line and we’ll find a solution to your problem on a free 1-on-1 consultation with a niche developer.

By Yevhen Sakara

CBDO & Co-founder

Nov 01, 2022

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Software Product Development Life Cycle—Full Guide For 2022

#1 Waterfall model (aka cascade)

#2 V-model

#3 Incremental model

#4 Spiral model

#5 Agile model

OMIBONUS: Scrum

Conclusion

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Got an idea but no one
to implement it fast?

Frequently asked questions

Software Product Development Life Cycle—Full Guide For 2022

#1 Waterfall model (aka cascade)

#2 V-model

#3 Incremental model

#4 Spiral model

#5 Agile model

OMIBONUS: Scrum

Conclusion

You might also like

Got an idea but no one to implement it fast?

Frequently asked questions

Got an idea but no one
to implement it fast?