Software Development Life

Cycle (SDLC)

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 1

SDLC Model
A framework that describes the activities
performed at each stage of a software
development project.

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 2

 Waterfall Model

Requirements – defines needed
information, function, behavior,
performance and interfaces.

Design – data structures,
software architecture, interface
representations, algorithmic
details.

Implementation – source code,
database, user documentation,
testing.

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 3

Waterfall Strengths

Easy to understand, easy to use

Provides structure to inexperienced staff

Milestones are well understood

Sets requirements stability

Good for management control (plan, staff, track)

Works well when quality is more important than
cost or schedule

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 4

Waterfall Deficiencies

All requirements must be known upfront

Deliverables created for each phase are considered
frozen

Does not reflect problem-solving nature of software
development – iterations of phases

Integration is one big bang at the end

Little opportunity for customer to preview the
system (until it may be too late)

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 5

When to use the Waterfall Model

Requirements are very well known

Product definition is stable

Technology is understood

New version of an existing product

Porting an existing product to a new platform.

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 6

 V-Shaped SDLC Model

A variant of the Waterfall
that emphasizes the
verification and validation
of the product.

Testing of the product is
planned in parallel with a
corresponding phase of
development

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 7

V-Shaped Steps

Project and Requirements Planning 
Production, operation and
– allocate resources maintenance – provide for
enhancement and corrections

Product Requirements and

System and acceptance testing –
Specification Analysis – complete check the entire software system in
specification of the software system its environment


Architecture or High-Level Design
– defines how software functions 
Integration and Testing – check that
fulfill the design modules interconnect correctly


Detailed Design – develop 
Unit testing – check that each
algorithms for each architectural module acts as expected
component

Coding – transform algorithms into
software

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 8

V-Shaped Strengths

Emphasize planning for verification and
validation of the product in early stages of
product development

Each deliverable must be testable

Project management can track progress by
milestones

Easy to use

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 9

V-Shaped Weaknesses

Does not easily handle concurrent events

Does not handle iterations or phases

Does not easily handle dynamic changes in
requirements

Does not contain risk analysis activities

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 10

When to use the V-Shaped Model

Excellent choice for systems requiring high
reliability – hospital patient control applications

All requirements are known up-front

When it can be modified to handle changing
requirements beyond analysis phase

Solution and technology are known

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 11

Structured Evolutionary Prototyping
Model

Developers build a prototype during the
requirements phase

Prototype is evaluated by end users

Users give corrective feedback

Developers further refine the prototype

When the user is satisfied, the prototype code is
brought up to the standards needed for a final
product.

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 12

Structured Evolutionary Prototyping
Steps

A preliminary project plan is developed

An partial high-level paper model is created

The model is source for a partial requirements
specification

A prototype is built with basic and critical attributes

The designer builds
• the database
• user interface
• algorithmic functions

The designer demonstrates the prototype, the user
evaluates for problems and suggests improvements.

This loop continues until the user is satisfied

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 13

Structured Evolutionary Prototyping
Strengths

Customers can “see” the system requirements as
they are being gathered

Developers learn from customers

A more accurate end product

Unexpected requirements accommodated

Allows for flexible design and development

Steady, visible signs of progress produced

Interaction with the prototype stimulates
awareness of additional needed functionality

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 14

Structured Evolutionary Prototyping
Weaknesses

Tendency to abandon structured program
development for “code-and-fix” development

Bad reputation for “quick-and-dirty” methods

Overall maintainability may be overlooked

The customer may want the prototype delivered.

Process may continue forever (scope creep)

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 15

Rapid Application Model (RAD)

Requirements planning phase (a workshop
utilizing structured discussion of business
problems)

User description phase – automated tools capture
information from users

Construction phase – productivity tools, such as
code generators, screen generators, etc. inside a
time-box. (“Do until done”)

Cutover phase -- installation of the system, user
acceptance testing and user training

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 16

RAD Strengths

Reduced cycle time and improved productivity
with fewer people means lower costs

Time-box approach mitigates cost and schedule
risk

Customer involved throughout the complete cycle
minimizes risk of not achieving customer
satisfaction and business needs

Focus moves from documentation to code
(WYSIWYG).

Uses modeling concepts to capture information
about business, data, and processes.

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 17

RAD Weaknesses

Accelerated development process must give
quick responses to the user

Risk of never achieving closure

Hard to use with legacy systems

Requires a system that can be modularized

Developers and customers must be committed to
rapid-fire activities in an abbreviated time frame.

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 18

When to use RAD

Reasonably well-known requirements

User involved throughout the life cycle

Project can be time-boxed

Functionality delivered in increments

High performance not required

Low technical risks

System can be modularized

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 19

 Incremental SDLC Model 
Construct a partial
implementation of a total system

Then slowly add increased
functionality

The incremental model
prioritizes requirements of the
system and then implements
them in groups.

Each subsequent release of the
system adds function to the
previous release, until all
designed functionality has been
implemented.

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 20

Incremental Model Strengths

Develop high-risk or major functions first

Each release delivers an operational product

Customer can respond to each build

Lowers initial delivery cost

Initial product delivery is faster

Customers get important functionality early

Risk of changing requirements is reduced

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 21

Incremental Model Weaknesses

Requires good planning and design

Requires early definition of a complete and fully
functional system to allow for the definition of
increments

Well-defined module interfaces are required
(some will be developed long before others)

Total cost of the complete system is not lower

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 22

When to use the Incremental Model

Risk, funding, schedule, program complexity, or
need for early realization of benefits.

Most of the requirements are known up-front but are
expected to evolve over time

A need to get basic functionality to the market early

On projects which have lengthy development
schedules

On a project with new technology

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 23

 Spiral SDLC Model

Adds risk analysis, and
4gl RAD prototyping
to the waterfall model

Each cycle involves the
same sequence of steps
as the waterfall process
model

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 24

Spiral Quadrant
Determine objectives, alternatives and constraints


Objectives: functionality, performance, hardware/software
interface, critical success factors, etc.

Alternatives: build, reuse, buy, sub-contract, etc.

Constraints: cost, schedule, interface, etc.

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 25

Spiral Quadrant
Evaluate alternatives, identify and resolve risks

Study alternatives relative to objectives and constraints

Identify risks (lack of experience, new technology, tight
schedules, poor process, etc.

Resolve risks (evaluate if money could be lost by
continuing system development

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 26

Spiral Quadrant
Develop next-level product

Typical activities:
• Create a design
• Review design
• Develop code
• Inspect code
• Test product

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 27

Spiral Quadrant
Plan next phase

Typical activities
• Develop project plan
• Develop configuration management plan
• Develop a test plan
• Develop an installation plan

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 28

Spiral Model Strengths

Provides early indication of insurmountable risks,
without much cost

Users see the system early because of rapid
prototyping tools

Critical high-risk functions are developed first

The design does not have to be perfect

Users can be closely tied to all lifecycle steps

Early and frequent feedback from users

Cumulative costs assessed frequently

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 29

Spiral Model Weaknesses

Time spent for evaluating risks too large for small or low-
risk projects

Time spent planning, resetting objectives, doing risk analysis
and prototyping may be excessive

The model is complex

Risk assessment expertise is required

Spiral may continue indefinitely

Developers must be reassigned during non-development
phase activities

May be hard to define objective, verifiable milestones that
indicate readiness to proceed through the next iteration

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 30

When to use Spiral Model

When creation of a prototype is appropriate

When costs and risk evaluation is important

For medium to high-risk projects

Long-term project commitment unwise because
of potential changes to economic priorities

Users are unsure of their needs

Requirements are complex

New product line

Significant changes are expected (research and
exploration)

Computer Science Software Engineering Slide 31