Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC): Your Complete 2025 Playbook

By Daks | Head of Product Strategy, SKAD IT Solutions

Last updated: March 28, 2025 | Estimated Time to Read: 20 Minutes

Creating more solid software isn't actually about talented coding - and more the art of producing quality electronic solutions by a disciplined, organized process. And that's where the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) steps in.

From requirements gathering to maintenance on a regular basis post-installation, SDLC provides a clearly defined road map to develop sound, secure, high-performing applications. SDLC serves as the backbone for each project we ship at SKAD IT Solution - each delivery long-lasting, not merely completed.

In this single-stop book, we will cover:

  • The 8 important phases of SDLC
  • SDLC best practices and when to apply them
  • Best practices and performance measures
  • Enterprise project deployment key lessons

What is SDLC?

Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) is a systematic method of the process of directing development, testing, rollout and support of software. It makes sure projects are achieving strategic business goals, reflect standards of excellence and improve over time.

Companies embracing a formal SDLC realize faster delivery - usually up to 70% faster - and realize quantum software reliability improvements. From releasing a simple phone app to corporate networks, SDLC brings predictability, transparency and scalability to your advantage.

The 8 Basic Stages of the SDLC

Each step in the SDLC helps deliver an idea as a functional product. Here's how Hexagon makes it happen:

1. Requirement Gathering

  • Conduct interview, collect user inputs and competitive analysis-
  • Capture functional and non-functional requirements
  • Map use cases and check feasibility

Objective: Know what to build and  why.

2. Analysis

  • Translate business requirements into technical specifications
  • Fill scope, goals and boundaries
  • Create an unambiguous Software Requirements Specification (SRS)

Objective: Translate ideas into actionables.

3. Planning

  • Decide costs, resources and delivery schedules
  • Perform risk analysis and compliance
  • Select proper technologies and tools

Objective: Timely and economical implementation of the strategy plan.

4. Design & Architecture

  • Develop Design Document Specification (DDS)
  • Develop UI/UX wireframes and interactive mockups
  • Design system components: databases, APIs, and third-party integration

Objective: Define the development framework and technical design.

5. Implementation & Coding

  • Develop maintainable, modulary code
  • Install APIs, backend functionalities and database functionalities
  • nstall development platforms and versioning

Objective: Put the design into practice with clean code.

6. Testing & QA

  • Perform unit, integration, system and acceptance tests
  • Execute performance, security and regression bug tests
  • Execute automated and manual test scripts

Objective: Make the software stable, secure and ready to use.

7. Deployment & Launch

  • Execute tests on staging environments
  • Execute CI/CD pipelines for seamless deployment
  • Develop documentation and onboarding documents

Objective: Roll the application smoothly to production.

8. Maintenance & Support

  • Release new updates and features
  • Fix performance and bug issues on time
  • Test the system for reliability and health

Objective: Put the application in up-to-date, secure and extensible form.

Most Popular SDLC Models and Best Fit Examples

1. Waterfall Model

  • 4–7 words max
  • Use curiosity or say something oddly specific
  • Emojis are okay
  • Ask a question
  • Skip ALL CAPS or spammy language

2. Agile Model

  • Highlights short, iterative iterations with continuous feedback
  • Favors collaboration and flexibility
  • Most suitable for: Startups, high-energy SaaS offerings, changing requirements

3. V-Model (Verification and Validation)

  • Depicts each development task with its corresponding test phase
  • Hears focus on precision, traceability and documentation
  • Most suitable for: Healthcare, aviation or safety-critical software systems

4. Iterative Model

  • Rollouts comes into play in incremental, iterative loops
  • Supports early product visibility and tuning
  • Best for: Complex systems with staggered rollouts

5. Spiral Model

  • Combines rapid prototyping with risk management practice
  • Adaptive methodology with ongoing stakeholder interaction
  • Best for: Large-scale enterprise deployments with high risk

6. Prototype Model

  • Develops early mockups to test with users
  • Refines based on user response before building at full scale
  • Best for: Projects with unclear or varying requirements

7. Big Bang Model

  • Involves minimal planning beforehand
  • Best suited for experimental and conceptualization growth
  • Best for: R&D groups or proof-of-concept, short-term projects

8. DevOps Model

  • Marries development with continuous operation
  • Concentrates on automated deployment and monitoring
  • Best for: Scalable, cloud-native enterprise platforms

What Makes a Great SDLC Stand Out?

Characteristics That Make a Strong Lifecycle:

  • Structured Process Flow: Avoids confusion and misalignment
  • Flexibility: Facilitates changes via iterative development
  • Early Risk Detection: Avoids costly rollbacks and failures
  • Scaleable Architecture: Works with your application
  • Compliance as a Design Concept: Security and regulatory compliant out of the box
  • Full Documentation: Enables hand-offs and future change

Choosing the Right SDLC Model

Things That Guide Your Choice:

  • Project Scope & Complexity: DevOps, Agile, or Spiral models are suited to gargantuan, evolving systems
  • Budget Available: Prototyping or Iterative ones are simple to change than fixed ones like Waterfall
  • Timelines for Delivery: Agile is supportive of faster releases than linear phases
  • Client Communication: Agile and prototyping processes employ close interaction
  • Business Needs: Compliant areas like V-Model or Waterfall; startups like Agile or DevOps

Advice for SDLC Success

  • Develop clear milestones beforehand
  • Test and deploy automatically
  • Use PM tools such as Jira, Trello or ClickUp to remain on track
  • Stakeholder input every two weeks or a month
  • Up-to-date, easily accessible documentation
  • Select a model based on business objectives, not technology trends

Performance Metrics to Monitor

  • Phase Duration: Refers to development bottlenecks
  • Bug Density: Refers to code quality and maintainability
  • Code Churn: Tracks amount of rework being done
  • Deployment Frequency: Monitors release frequency
  • Customer Satisfaction: Measures real impact of the product

Why SDLC Is More Important Than Ever Today

The quick online age now is such that lag, poor quality or off-key products can flat kill your business. An open, reproducible SDLC ensures your app delivers genuine value, is secure and deploys on time - without burning a hole in the wallet.

Here at SKAD IT Solutions, SDLC isn't a procedure - it's the philosophy of making products. From bringing your next big concept into being or even refactoring what you have now, we enable you to craft results, not output.

Ready to introduce order and agility into your development process?

Book a complimentary SDLC Strategy Session with our team of experts and find out how we transform squishy ideas into successful software since Day One.

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