Software Development

  • Software development refers to a set of computer science activities dedicated to the process of creating, designing, deploying and supporting software.

  • Softwares are divided into two categories: system software and application software. System software includes the operating system and all utilities that enable the computer to function, while application software includes any programme that performs a specific task for a user.

  • The software development life cycle (SDLC) involves several distinct stages including planning, analysis, design, development & implementation, testing & documentation, and maintenance.

  • The “Waterfall Model” is a traditional version of the SDLC, characterised by a linear sequential flow in which progress trickles steadily downwards through the phases, just like a waterfall.

  • In contrast, the “Agile Model” of software development emphasises continuous iteration of development and testing in the software development process.

  • During the analysis phase, developers gather the business requirements, during which they understand what needs to be developed and how.

  • The design phase involves developing a plan for a solution. Data are broken down, potential risks are identified, and possible solutions proposed.

  • Real coding is performed in the development phase and software programming is done with the help of developers.

  • The testing phase ensures the software is devoid of any glitches and meets user requirements. It includes unit testing, integration testing, system testing, acceptance testing, etc.

  • Post-development, software documentation provides an overview of the product, service, or system being developed.

  • During maintenance, software undergoes modification to correct discovered problems, improve its performance or other attributes, or adapt to a changed environment.

  • Software can be developed using various programming languages, including Java, Python, C++, and C#.

  • It’s crucial that developers adhere to ethical considerations while developing software tools. This involves issues like intellectual property, user privacy, and compliance with the law.

  • Debugging is an important step in the software development process, consisting of the process of locating, analysing and rectifying of errors in software code.

  • Version control systems (like GIT) play a crucial role in managing changes to software development projects, allowing developers to work simultaneously, provides isolation between different versions and features, maintains history of every version.

  • Understanding of different development methodologies and programming paradigms (like Object-Oriented Programming) is crucial in the field of software development.