My Journey with 3MTT: The Software Development Life Cycle

Hey everyone! ??

I'm excited to kick off a new series where I'll be sharing my weekly assignments from 3MTT Nigeria . The 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, a critical part of the Renewed Hope agenda, is aimed at building Nigeria’s technical talent backbone to power it's digital economy and position Nigeria as a net talent exporter. I'm currently learning software development under their guide. The goal of this series is to track my learning journey and document my progress as I tackle different aspects of software development each week.

For this week, I'm focusing on the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). In this article, I’ll break down the six key stages of the SDLC and their purpose. Let’s get in! ??

Understanding the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a systematic process used to develop high-quality software within a predictable timeframe and budget. It consists of six stages, each with its own purpose and activities. Here’s a quick overview:

1. Planning ??

This is the stage where everything begins. The planning phase involves gathering, analyzing, documenting, and prioritizing requirements. Several factors must be considered, including the users, input/output data, legal and regulatory compliance, risk identification, quality assurance, and resource allocation. The key outcome of this stage is the creation of the Software Requirement Specification (SRS) document, which is essential for guiding the project forward.

2. Design ???

Next up is the design stage, where the software’s architecture is crafted and reviewed by stakeholders. This is also where prototypes come into play. A prototype is essentially a preliminary version of the system that includes basic functionalities. This stage also involves creating a design document that will serve as a blueprint for development.

3. Development ??

The development phase is where the coding activities happen. During this stage, the selected programming tools and languages are used to build the software. Software engineers, developers, and programmers collaborate to create the core of the software application.

4. Testing ??

After development, it’s time to test! The testing phase involves thoroughly examining the code to ensure it’s stable, secure, and meets the SRS requirements. Some organizations even have dedicated teams to handle this crucial phase. The goal here is to catch and fix any issues before the software is deployed.

5. Deployment ??

Once testing is complete, the software is ready for deployment. This stage involves releasing the application into the production environment. Before full deployment, it’s often released for User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to ensure it functions well across different platforms, such as websites, mobile devices, or corporate networks.

6. Maintenance ??

Last but not least is the maintenance phase. After the software has been deployed, the focus shifts to addressing any bugs, UI issues, or additional requirements that may not have been covered in the initial SRS. This ongoing process ensures the software remains functional and up-to-date.

These six stages form the backbone of the SDLC. While they’re commonly used, it’s worth noting that some organizations might choose to split certain stages, leading to variations. However, the core concept remains the same.

I hope this breakdown helps understand the process a bit better! Stay tuned for more insights as I continue to share my learning journey with 3MTT. If you have any questions, feedback, or thoughts, feel free to drop a comment. Let’s keep learning and growing together! ??

Follow my journey: I'll be posting an article every week to document my progress and share what I've learned from my 3MTT Nigeria Weekly Assignments. Let’s connect and learn together on this exciting path of software development!