According to an essay on the Computerworld website, the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a conceptual model used in project management that describes the stages involved in an information system development project from an initial feasibility study through maintenance of the completed application.
SDLC encompasses the overall process of developing information systems through a multi-step process from investigation of initial requirements through analysis, design, implementation and maintenance. There are a number of different models for the SDLC. The oldest SDLC model is the waterfall: a cascading sequence of stages in which the output of each stage becomes the input for the next divided up in different ways including these:
The existing system is evaluated and deficiencies are identified, and the new the new system requirements are defined.
Project planning, feasibility study: Establishes a high-level view of the intended project and establishes goals.
Systems analysis, requirements definition: Refines project goals into defined functions. Analyzes end-user information needs.
Systems design: The proposed system is designed. Plans are laid out concerning the physical construction, hardware, operating systems, programming, communications, and security issues.
Implementation: The point at which the code is written.
Integration and testing: Creating a test environment that checks for errors and bugs. Users of the system must be trained in its use, and all aspects of performance must be tested.
Acceptance, installation, and deployment: The final stage of initial development, where the software is put into production. Once the new system is up and running for certain period of time, it should be exhaustively evaluated.
Maintenance: The process that occurs during the software's life in which changes, correction, and additions are made. Maintenance is arguably the most important step in this process. Us...