The software development life cycle is the process of planning, designing, developing, and implementing high-quality software at the lowest cost. To achieve this goal, developers need to use models to create software to match customer requirements. In today’s technology world, there are a variety of software development models, so what does it mean to be a software developer? How to choose the right model? Get the details about this model right through the article below!
1. What is the software development model?
The software development model is used in many fields, especially industry. Source: thinksys.com
The software development model is a system of processes and methods implemented to develop a project. There are several types of models to create software, depending on each enterprise will have different ways to achieve different goals.
2. Top best software development models nowadays
According to Good Firm statistics, software development usually needs about 36,000 USD. Therefore, before implementing the project of your enterprise, you need to thoroughly research information about the types of development models to ensure that you choose the most suitable model for your enterprise. These are some common types of software development paradigms, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each one.
2.1. Waterfall model
The Waterfall model is the world’s first software development model. Source: amela.vn
The waterfall model is the first method for software development. The Waterfall model has six main phases: Require analysis, System design, Implementation, Testing, Development, and Maintenance. This model has some pros and cons as follows:
About advantages:
- The waterfall model is sequential and simple, anyone can use it.
- It adapts well to new environments.
- Apply a plan with a clear roadmap and tight structure.
- Be suitable for small projects, short time, and simple requirements.
About disadvantages:
- This is not the ideal model for large-scale projects.
- If the initial request is not clear, this is the less efficient method.
- Errors are difficult to correct during product creation.
- After the development is over, it is quite difficult and expensive to fix bugs.
2.2. Evolutionary software development model
The Evolutionary model has core modules that are tested regularly. Source: computersciencejunction.in
The Evolutionary model is a development model that combines the iterative model and the incremental software development lifecycle. The Evolutionary model is commonly used for large, multi-product projects.
About advantages:
- Core modules are carefully tested to minimize operational errors.
- Users can test a partially developed system or check quality at every stage of the product development process.
- Evolutionary model is better for risk analysis.
- Support changing environment for output products.
- Initial uptime is less.
- Be suitable for important projects, with large tasks and high requirements.
- During the cycle, software is produced early, enabling customer evaluation and feedback.
About the disadvantages:
- Evolutionary model management is quite complex compared to many other models.
- Not suitable for small, short-term projects.
- Higher cost of use.
- Requires human resources with more expertise in risk analysis.
- Longer time to create products due to changing customer requirements during development.
2.3. Model V-Model
The V-Model is considered an extension of the Waterfall model. Source: testigma.com
The V-Model, also known as the Verification model, is an extension of the Waterfall model with the addition of an early test plan. Instead of moving linearly through each stage of development, the V-Model moves down until the coding stage and it starts to go up to form the letter “V”.
About advantages:
- The V-Model allows for early detection of errors in code and architecture during project development.
- The V – Model allows for early testing planning to be added, providing a higher chance of success than the Waterfall model.
About the disadvantages:
- Because of being a linear model, the V-Model is not flexible.
- Project implementation phases are separate, making adjustments difficult, expensive, and time-consuming.
- Model V-Model is not necessary for long-term, complex projects.
2.4. Spiral model
The Spiral model is a type of software engineering development model that combines the Waterfall model and the iterative approach model.
The Spiral Model focuses on project risk analysis, each phase in the model begins with a design goal and ends with the client checking the progress of the phase.
The Spiral model consists of four main stages:
- Planning: Software developers will collect information, and analyze customer requirements. This phase includes tasks such as estimating costs, scheduling implementation, determining the number of employees, working environment, etc.
- Risk analysis: The analytical process that identifies risks and offers alternatives. At the end of the stage, a prototype is borned.
- Project Execution: This is the time when software developers conduct coding and testing.
- Evaluation: After receiving the final product, the customer will evaluate the product against the set requirements.
About advantages:
- Continuous iterative development allows for changing new feature additions and risk management.
- The systematic Spiral model helps streamline the process.
- It is a highly customizable model, suitable for each customer.
About the disadvantages:
- Customer evaluation will determine which stage results in the development process being slowed down.
- Customer’s requirements should not be changed during the technical execution phase.
- An unknown number of iterations leads to budget overruns or missed deadlines.
2.5. Agile software development model
The agile model is an iterative software development model. Source: agiletech.vn
Agile model is a software development methodology based on iterative development. The phases in the model are broken down into small iterations and are not directly related to long-term planning.
The agile software development model includes 6 stages as follows:
- Collect request
- Design
- Iterative construction
- Check quality
- Deployment
- Evaluate
About the advantages:
- Software developers will communicate directly with customers to ensure the best product quality.
- Project features can be changed at any time.
- Save development time.
- Design efficiently and meet business requirements.
About the disadvantages:
- Due to the lack of formal documentation, the Agile model can create confusion when making important decisions during the development stages.
- Lack of proper documentation makes it more difficult to maintain a completed project.
3. How to choose the right software development model for your enterprise
Criteria for choosing the right software development model for your enterprise include cost, development time, and project complexity. Source: tigosoftware.com
To choose a software design method that is suitable for your enterprise, you need to find out about criteria such as value, development speed, distribution frequency, and some possible errors in the model, project complexity, and model popularity.
The process for you to choose the right model can include the following steps:
Step 1: Determine the cost of development models based on the goals and complexity of the project.
Step 2: Determine the software development time and delivery speed of the models.
Step 3: Determine the time it takes a model to complete a software development loop or cycle. This period can be weekly, monthly, quarterly, or continuously every day.
Step 4: It is necessary to estimate the product defects compared to the standard specifications in the original product description document.
Step 5: It is necessary to determine the complexity of the project including attributes such as time, cost, scale, quality, functionality…
Step 6: Find out how popular the model is in the field your enterprise deploys.
After understanding each of the above aspects and comparing them with the standards set by your enterprise, you can decide which model is right for your business.
Conclude
The software development model is considered an indispensable tool for software developers. There are countless types of development models and each has its advantages and disadvantages. To choose the right model, you need to understand that model as well as the project your enterprise undertakes.
If you need help choosing a software development model or you have a need to use technology services, BAP Software can support you. BAP is proud to be a provider of advanced quality technology services with a team of professional technicians in many countries around the world such as Japan, Korea, the United States, and Vietnam. Our technicians will advise you so that you can implement the project in the best way, limiting the risks of time and technique.
