7 Best Software Development Models You Should Know

Software development Life Cycle (SDLC) means all the works related to building and maintaining an IT product. It begins when a client needs a digital solution and continues until the developer stops supporting it.

To choose the most suitable SDLC Model, you need to take into account:

• the time when you must send the result to the client;
• financial support of the project;
• interaction between the client and the performers.

But even if all the terms are met, it may be difficult to understand whether the result will satisfy the customer’s requests. So, focusing on high speed of work, you risk paying insufficient attention to the quality of the final product. And being too passionate about intermediate testing will affect the cost and duration of the project.

We must say there is no perfect model. Each project requires a different approach, so when choosing how you’ll organize the workflow, remember your main goal: to release a product that completely meets the customer’s requests.

Let’s move on to the SDLC Models used by modern developers. We’ll also talk about how they correspond with various types of software.

All the SDLC models can be grouped depending on the method of the team’s work (linear or iterative), the customer’s involvement, and the possibility of making changes (classic and Agile).

Models with a linear or sequential technological process are:

• Waterfall model;
• V-model.

Models with an iterative approach:

• Incremental and iterative development;
• Prototype Model in SDLC;
• Spiral model;
• Scrum;
• Kanban.

In terms of the cooperation with a customer and the possibility to customize a project, Scrum and Kanban allow both parties to interact closely and make an unlimited number of changes to the project.

Classic Software Development Models

Let’s take a closer look at the classic models and figure out which applications each is best suited for developing.

Waterfall Model

The model’s name hints at the principle behind this method. Work in this model is divided into stages:

• analysis of requirements;
• design;
• implementation;
• testing;
• deployment.

Strict order must be observed. The results obtained at the end of each stage should be recorded in reports.

Advantages:

• It allows you to calculate the exact deadline and plan your budget;
• each stage is subject to strict inspection, which positively affects the quality of the final product.

Disadvantages:

• The sequence of stages is constant, so the mandatory conditions for the project cannot change while working on it;
• You cannot predict the final results: it is impossible to test the software at an intermediate stage;
• To speed up software release, the testing stage is often skipped, which leads to bugs, the correction of which may affect your budget.

Considering the above factors, it is better not to use this software development model for large-scale projects as they require clearly described requirements, a fixed budget, and a definite technology stack. These can be websites for small and medium-sized businesses or projects for government agencies that require more control over the observance of norms and standards

V-model

While it is another example of a sequential model, it differs from the previous one: each period of linear development ends with a quality check of the work performed.

The main advantage:

• Quality control during the work on the project guarantees good results in the end.

Disadvantages:

• Multiple testing leads to higher project costs and increased duration of its implementation;
• Although errors can be detected at any development stage, their elimination still requires financial and time costs.

This SDLC model is suitable for developing projects where attention to detail is critical and delays are prohibited. For example, software for the medical and transportation sectors.

Incremental and iterative development

The work is divided into iterations, i.e., repeating steps. Each of them is like an independent mini-project.

When it comes to the incremental model, the phased delivery of individual software components is provided without changing the previous ones. Based on project requirements, you can choose between linear or parallel working methods. The model also implies improving the product during each iteration.

Advantages:

• parallel development speeds up creating software and requires less financial costs;
• minor edits are allowed.

Disadvantages:

• iteration-based development is expensive and requires significant labor resources;
• the core requirements for the app must be discussed at the initial stage of work. Otherwise, it may be difficult to integrate subsequent modules.

Incremental and iterative software development models are used in large corporate businesses. For this model to justify itself, the main condition must be met: the application components should not be closely related to each other. Microservices are an example of such software.

Prototype Model in SDLC

Prototype-based software development requires creating a simplified copy (prototype) of a future full-fledged application before starting work. It helps to distinguish what the client wants. When the prototype is ready, it is tested and refined, considering all users’ requirements.

Benefits:

• Reducing development iterations due to early user feedback;
• A high probability of satisfying the customer’s requests.

Disadvantages:

• The risk of spending an unreasonably long time on prototyping, thereby delaying the development;
• You cannot change the software requirements while working on the final prototype.

This SDLC model is suitable for applications in which a significant part of the work is creating UI/UX. The reason is the customer’s subjective idea of ​​the final version of the software. Sometimes it is difficult to understand it without preliminary visualization.

Spiral model

This model, like the previous one, also relies on preliminary prototyping. But if the main benefit of that prototype model in SDLC is quick project implementation, the average iteration in the spiral model lasts up to six months and includes the following stages:

• planning;
• risk assessment;
• study of the previous module.

Advantages:

• A high-quality risk assessment if the team has high-skilled specialists with experience in the field;
• Customer participation in interim studies and product reviews.

Disadvantages:

• Long repetitive steps significantly increase work duration;
• The lack of a pre-planned number of cycles may lead to additional financial costs and a slowdown of work;
• Making edits at the design stage is not possible;
• The individuality of the model for each client does not allow using it in other projects.

This time-consuming and costly model is suitable when it is necessary to create an innovative solution with increased complexity and ambitious requirements. For example, building an application to bring new products to the consumer market.

Agile-based models

Software Development Models presented in this section are guided by the principle of flexibility. The Agile group hallmarks are dividing processes into iterations, total immersion of the client in the workflow, and frequent checks of user feedback.

Developers who adhere to the Agile methodology closely interact both within the team and with clients. At the end of each iteration (lasting from one day to several weeks), the participants evaluate the work done and draw up an action plan for the next iteration.

Advantages of Agile models:

• The flexibility of the methodology makes it possible to improve the software constantly;
• Testing by users at all the development stages makes it more likely to satisfy their needs.

Their disadvantage:

• An unlimited number of changes complicates calculating financial costs and required time.

However, Agile models are prevalent among today’s IT professionals. According to PMI, 71% of companies have experience applying an agile approach to software development.

Agile Software Development Models are great for startups and big projects requiring phased work. This methodology has proven itself well in building medium-sized solutions that cannot be clearly correlated with any popular development approaches.

There are many Agile SDLC Models on the market today. Let’s consider the 2 most often used in practice.

More read Software Development Models