The Software Development Process

Introduction

Software sits behind almost every business workflow, from mobile banking and e-commerce to logistics and AI products.

In 2026, global IT spending is projected to reach $6.15 trillion, with software among the fastest-growing categories.

At the same time, engineering teams are shipping at massive scale: GitHub reports continued growth in developer activity and language adoption across millions of contributors.

This article explains what software is, what the software development lifecycle (SDLC) looks like in practice, which methodologies teams use, and which roles are involved from discovery to maintenance.

Prepared by ilink, a reliable partner in software development, blockchain, and AI.

Updated: February 2026.

What Is Software?

Software is the set of instructions and data that tells a computer or device what to do.

In simple terms, hardware is the physical part of a system, while software is the logic that makes the system useful.

Software can include:

1. Operating systems and drivers;
2. Applications (web, mobile, desktop);
3. Services and APIs;
4. Data processing pipelines;
5. Embedded firmware (for devices).

What Is the Software Development Process?

The software development process is a structured way to turn an idea into a working product and keep it reliable after launch. It helps teams avoid two common problems: building the wrong thing, and releasing something unstable.

In practice, the process answers four questions at every step.

1. What are we building and for whom (requirements).
2. How will it work and look (design and architecture).
3. How do we build it safely (implementation + testing).
4. How do we release and support it in real life (deployment + maintenance).

Even in Agile projects, where work is iterative, the same steps still exist. They just happen in smaller cycles, with feedback and adjustments along the way.

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6 Stages of the Software Development Process

Most modern SDLCs can be described using six stages. Teams may iterate, overlap, or rename them, but the logic stays similar.

1. Requirements gathering and analysis.

Goal: confirm what should be built and why. 

What typically happens:

1. Elicit requirements (interviews, workshops, competitor review);
2. Define scope boundaries (what’s in / out);
3. Turn ideas into testable requirements (acceptance criteria);
4. Document decisions (PRD, user stories, use cases).

A strong requirement set should be clear enough that a team can design it and test it later.

2. Design.

Goal: turn requirements into a plan for how the product will work. 

Design usually includes:

1. UX flows and wireframes;
2. UI design (visual style + components);
3. System design (architecture, data model, integrations);
4. Risk review (security, privacy, reliability).

Good design reduces rework during development and makes testing more predictable.

3. Coding/implementation.

Goal: build the product according to the design.

In mature teams, implementation includes:

1. Version control workflows;
2. Code review rules;
3. Branching strategy;
4. CI pipelines (build + test automation);
5. Coding standards and documentation.

In many projects, development and testing run in parallel so defects are caught early.

4. Testing.

Goal: verify that the software works as expected and is safe to run.

Common testing layers:

1. Unit tests (functions/classes);
2. Integration tests (services talk to each other);
3. End-to-end tests (real user flows);
4. Security testing (SAST/DAST, dependency checks);
5. Performance testing (load, stress, latency).

Security is now widely treated as part of the SDLC rather than a final checkbox.

5. Deployment.

Goal: release the software into a real environment (staging → production).

This stage often includes:

1. Environment configuration (cloud, containers, secrets);
2. Release strategy (blue/green, canary, phased rollout);
3. Monitoring setup (logs, metrics, alerts);
4. Rollback plan (how to revert safely).

6. Maintenance.

Goal: keep the software reliable, secure, and useful after launch.

Maintenance typically means:

1. Bug fixes and patching;
2. Dependency updates;
3. Performance improvements;
4. Security updates;
5. Feature iterations based on real usage feedback.

Software Development Types (Common Process Models)

Different projects benefit from different models. These are the ones you’ll see most often.

1. Waterfall

A sequential approach where each stage is completed before the next begins.

Best fit:

1. Fixed scope;
2. Strong documentation needs;
3. Regulated environments with stable requirements.

2. Incremental development.

The product is built in small functional increments.

Best fit:

1. When you want visible progress early;
2. When requirements are likely to evolve;
3. When you need to reduce risk with step-by-step delivery.

3. Spiral model.

An iterative approach that repeats cycles of planning, risk analysis, building, and evaluation.

Best fit:

1. High-risk projects;
2. Complex systems;
3. R&D-heavy development.

4. Agile.

A flexible approach that delivers in short cycles and adapts to change.

Best fit:

1. Products with evolving requirements;
2. Teams shipping continuously;
3. Businesses that want frequent releases and feedback loops.

5. Scrum.

A specific Agile framework that organizes work into “sprints” with clear ceremonies and roles.

Best fit:

1. Teams that need predictable iteration cadence;
2. Product development with frequent stakeholder input;
3. Environments where sprint planning + reviews improve alignment.

Software Development Team Structure

Depending on size and complexity, a team may include:

• Product owner/stakeholder. Defines business goals and priorities. Approves what “success” looks like and what should be built first.
• Business analyst or product analyst. Turns business needs into clear requirements. Writes user stories, acceptance criteria, and removes ambiguity before development starts.
• UX/UI designer. Designs user flows and screens so the product is easy to use. Creates wireframes, UI layouts, and a consistent visual style.
• Frontend developer. Builds what the user sees and interacts with. Implements screens, forms, dashboards, and connects the interface to backend APIs.
• Backend developer. Builds the logic behind the product. Creates APIs, databases, integrations, and handles performance, security, and business rules.
• QA engineer (manual + automation). Finds issues before users do. Tests user flows, edge cases, performance basics, and often writes automated tests for regression.
• DevOps. Makes releases predictable and keeps the system stable. Sets up CI/CD, cloud infrastructure, monitoring, logs, backups, and incident response practices.
• Security specialist. Checks the product for security risks. Reviews architecture and code, validates authentication/authorization, and runs security testing practices.
• Project manager. Keeps execution under control. Plans timelines, coordinates people, manages risks, and ensures transparent communication with the client.

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FAQ

What are the 2 broad categories of software development methodologies?

1. Agile methodologies (iterative, adaptable, feedback-driven);
2. Plan-driven methodologies (sequential, documentation-heavy, scope-stable).

Why is a defined process important in software development?

Because it reduces delivery risk: unclear requirements, late defect discovery, unstable releases, and costly rework.

What types of software are there?

1. Application software (apps and services);
2. System software (OS, drivers, platform components);
3. Utility/service software (tools for maintenance, security, operations).