SoftwareDevelopment Life Cycle (SDLC)

Spiral Model – What is SDLC Spiral Model?

What is SDLC SPIRAL MODEL?
Introduction:
Spiral model is a combination of sequential and prototype model. This model is best used for large projects which involves continuous enhancements. There are specific activities which are done in one iteration (spiral) where the output is a small prototype of the large software. The same activities are then repeated for all the spirals till the entire software is build.
To explain in simpler terms, the steps involved in spiral model are:
SDLC Spiral Model
A spiral model has 4 phases described below:
  1. Planning phase
  2. Risk analysis phase
  3. Engineering phase
  4. Evaluation phase.
Activities which are performed in the spiral model phases are shown below:
Phase NameActivities performedDeliverables / Output
Planning-Requirements are studied and gathered.
- Feasibility study 
- Reviews and walkthroughs to streamline the requirements
Requirements understanding document

Finalized list of requirements.
Risk AnalysisRequirements are studied and brain storming sessions are done to identify the potential risks

Once the risks are identified , risk mitigation strategy is planned and finalized
Document which highlights all the risks and its mitigation plans.
EngineeringActual development and testing if the software takes place in this phaseCode
Test cases and test results
Test summary report and defect report.
EvaluationCustomers evaluate the software and provide their feedback and approvalFeatures implemented document

Pictorial representation of SDLC Spiral model

Different colors represent different spiral or iteration. For first iteration, represented in brown color , all the 4 activities (Planning, risk analysis, engineering and evaluation) are performed. After the evaluation phase is over for the first iteration (spiral), second iteration (spiral) starts The second iteration, which is represented in orange color, here again all the 4 activities (Planning, risk analysis, engineering and evaluation) are performed. In a similar way, third iteration is done shown in blue color and so on the process continues.
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SDLC Spiral Model 1
When to Use Spiral model?
Spiral model is used in the following scenarios:
  • When the project is large.
  • Where the software needs continuous risk evaluation.
  • Requirements are a bit complicated and require continuous clarification.
  • Software requires significant changes.
  • Where enough time frame is their to get end user feedback.
  • Where releases are required to be frequent.
Advantages of using Spiral Model:
Advantages of using Spiral model are as follows:
  • Development is fast
  • Larger projects / software are created and handled in a strategic way
  • Risk evaluation is proper.
  • Control towards all the phases of development.
  • More and more features are added in a systematic way.
  • Software is produced early.
  • Has room for customer feedback and the changes are implemented faster.
Disadvantages of using Spiral model:
Disadvantages of Spiral model are as follows:
  • Risk analysis is important phase so requires expert people.
  • Is not beneficial for smaller projects.
  • Spiral may go infinitely.
  • Documentation is more as it has intermediate phases.
  • It is costly for smaller projects.
Conclusion:
Each spiral can be termed as a loop and each loop is a separate development process in a spiral model. The four activities (Planning, Risk analysis, engineering and evaluation) form the intermediary phases of a spiral model and is repeated again for each loop.
This model is very good to use for larger projects where you can develop and deliver smaller prototypes and can enhance it to make the larger software. The implementation of this model requires experienced resources as risk analysis is a very integral part of this model and risk analysis requires expertise and as a result this model becomes costly.





SoftwareDevelopment Life Cycle (SDLC)

John Petlicki

DePaul University

Capability Maturity Model (CMM) - A bench-mark for measuring the maturity of an organization’s software process. CMM defines 5 levels of process maturity based on certain


Key Process Areas (KPA)
·         CMM Levels
Level 5 – Optimizing  (< 1%)
-- process change management
-- technology change management
-- defect prevention

Level 4 – Managed   (< 5%)
-- software quality management
-- quantitative process management

Level 3 – Defined      (< 10%)
-- peer reviews
-- intergroup coordination
-- software product engineering
-- integrated software management
-- training program
-- organization process definition
-- organization process focus

Level 2 – Repeatable (~ 15%)
-- software configuration management
-- software quality assurance
-- software project tracking and oversight
-- software project planning
-- requirements management

Level 1 – Initial         (~ 70%)


SDLC Model
A framework that describes the activities performed at each stage of a software development project. 

1.  Waterfall Model
•         Requirements – defines needed information, function, behavior, performance and interfaces.
•         Design – data structures, software architecture, interface representations, algorithmic details.
•         Implementation – source code, database, user documentation, testing.

Waterfall Strengths
•        Easy to understand, easy to use
•        Provides structure to inexperienced staff
•        Milestones are well understood
•        Sets requirements stability
•        Good for management control (plan, staff, track)
•        Works well when quality is more important than cost or schedule

Waterfall Deficiencies
•        All requirements must be known upfront
•        Deliverables created for each phase are considered frozen – inhibits flexibility
•        Can give a false impression of progress
•        Does not reflect problem-solving nature of software development – iterations of phases
•        Integration is one big bang at the end
•        Little opportunity for customer to preview the system (until it may be too late)

When to use the Waterfall Model
•        Requirements are very well known
•        Product definition is stable
•        Technology is understood
•        New version of an existing product
•        Porting an existing product to a new platform.


2.      V-Shaped SDLC Model
•         A variant of the Waterfall that emphasizes the verification and validation of the product.
•         Testing of the product is planned in parallel with a corresponding phase of development

V-Shaped Steps
•          Project and Requirements Planning – allocate resources
•          Product Requirements and Specification Analysis – complete specification of the software system
•          Architecture or High-Level Design – defines how software functions fulfill the design
•          Detailed Design – develop algorithms for each architectural component
•          Production, operation and maintenance – provide for enhancement and corrections
•          System and acceptance testing – check the entire software system in its environment
•          Integration and Testing – check that modules  interconnect correctly
•          Unit testing – check that each module acts as expected
•           Coding – transform algorithms into software

V-Shaped Strengths
·         Emphasize planning for verification and validation of the product in early stages of product development
·         Each deliverable must be testable
·         Project management can track progress by milestones
·         Easy to use
·         V-Shaped Weaknesses
·         Does not easily handle concurrent events
·         Does not handle iterations or phases
·         Does not easily handle dynamic changes in requirements
3.       Does not contain risk analysis activities

When to use the V-Shaped Model
·         Excellent choice for systems requiring high reliability – hospital patient control applications
·         All requirements are known up-front
·         When it can be modified to handle changing requirements beyond analysis phase
·         Solution and technology are known

2.     Structured Evolutionary Prototyping Model
·         Developers build a prototype during the requirements phase
·         Prototype is evaluated by end users
·         Users give corrective feedback
·         Developers further refine the prototype
·         When the user is satisfied, the prototype code is brought up to the standards needed for a final product.

Structured Evolutionary Prototyping Steps
•         A preliminary project plan is developed
•         An partial high-level paper model is created
•         The model is source for a partial requirements specification
•         A  prototype is built with basic and critical attributes
•         The designer builds
–     the database
–     user interface
–     algorithmic functions
•         The designer demonstrates the prototype, the user evaluates for problems and suggests improvements.
•         This loop continues until the user is satisfied


Structured Evolutionary Prototyping Strengths
•        Customers can “see” the system requirements as they are being gathered
•        Developers learn from customers
•        A more accurate end product
•        Unexpected requirements accommodated
•        Allows for flexible design and development
•        Steady, visible signs of progress produced
•        Interaction with the prototype stimulates awareness of additional needed functionality       

Structured Evolutionary Prototyping Weaknesses
•        Tendency to abandon structured program development for “code-and-fix” development
•        Bad reputation for “quick-and-dirty” methods
•        Overall maintainability may be overlooked
•        The customer may want the prototype delivered.
•        Process may continue forever (scope creep)


When to use Structured Evolutionary Prototyping
•        Requirements are unstable or have to be clarified
•        As the requirements clarification stage of a waterfall model
•        Develop user interfaces
•        Short-lived demonstrations
•        New, original development
•        With the analysis and design portions of object-oriented development.



3.     Rapid Application Model (RAD)
•        Requirements planning phase  (a workshop utilizing structured discussion of business problems)
•        User description phase – automated tools capture information from users
•        Construction phase – productivity tools, such as code generators, screen generators, etc. inside a time-box. (“Do until done”)
•        Cutover phase  -- installation of the system, user acceptance testing and user training


RAD Strengths
•        Reduced cycle time and improved productivity with fewer people means lower costs
•        Time-box approach mitigates cost and schedule risk
•        Customer involved throughout the complete cycle minimizes risk of not achieving customer satisfaction and business needs
•        Focus moves from documentation to code (WYSIWYG).
•        Uses modeling concepts to capture information about business, data, and processes.


RAD Weaknesses
•        Accelerated development process must give quick responses to the user
•        Risk of never achieving closure
•        Hard to use with legacy systems
•        Requires a system that can be modularized
•        Developers and customers must be committed to rapid-fire activities in an abbreviated time frame.

When to use RAD
·         Reasonably well-known requirements
·         User involved throughout the life cycle
·         Project can be time-boxed
·         Functionality delivered in increments
·         High performance not required
·         Low technical risks
·         System can be modularized
·         Incremental SDLC Model
•         Construct a partial implementation of a total system
•         Then slowly add increased functionality
•         The incremental model prioritizes requirements of the system and then implements them in groups.
•         Each subsequent release of the system adds function to the previous release, until all designed functionality has been implemented.


Incremental Model Strengths
•        Develop high-risk or major functions first
•        Each release delivers an operational product
•        Customer can respond to each build
•        Uses  “divide and conquer” breakdown of tasks
•        Lowers initial delivery cost
•        Initial product delivery is faster
•        Customers get important functionality early
•        Risk of changing requirements is reduced

Incremental Model Weaknesses
·         Requires good planning and design
·         Requires early definition of a complete and fully functional system to allow for the definition of increments
·         Well-defined module interfaces are required (some will be developed long before others)
·         Total cost of the complete system is not lower

When to use the Incremental Model
•        Risk, funding, schedule, program complexity, or need for early realization of benefits.
•        Most of the requirements are known up-front but are expected to evolve over time
•        A need to get basic functionality to the market early
•        On projects which have lengthy development schedules
•        On a project with new technology


4.  Spiral SDLC Model
•        Adds risk analysis, and 4gl RAD prototyping to the waterfall model
•        Each cycle involves the same sequence of steps as the waterfall process model
•         Spiral Quadrant - Determine objectives, alternatives and constraints
•         Objectives:  functionality, performance, hardware/software interface, critical success factors, etc.
•         Alternatives: build, reuse, buy, sub-contract, etc.
•         Constraints:  cost, schedule, interface, etc.
•        Evaluate alternatives,  identify and resolve risks
•         Study alternatives relative to objectives and constraints
•         Identify risks (lack of experience, new technology, tight schedules, poor process, etc.
•         Resolve risks (evaluate if money could be lost by continuing system development
•Develop next-level product
•         Typical activities:
•       Create a design
•       Review design
•       Develop code
•       Inspect code
•       Test product

•Plan next phase
•         Typical activities
•       Develop project plan
•       Develop configuration management plan
•       Develop a test plan
•       Develop an installation plan


Spiral Model Strengths
•        Provides early indication of insurmountable risks, without much cost
•        Users see the system early because of rapid prototyping tools
•        Critical high-risk functions are developed first
•        The design does not have to be perfect
•        Users can be closely tied to all lifecycle steps
•        Early and frequent feedback from users
•        Cumulative costs assessed frequently


Spiral Model Weaknesses
•         Time spent for evaluating risks too large for small or low-risk projects
•         Time spent planning, resetting objectives, doing risk analysis and prototyping may  be excessive
•         The model is complex
•         Risk assessment expertise is required
•         Spiral may continue indefinitely
•         Developers must be reassigned during non-development phase activities
•         May be hard to define objective, verifiable milestones that indicate readiness to proceed through the next iteration


When to use Spiral Model
•        When creation of a prototype is appropriate
•        When costs and risk evaluation is important
•        For medium to high-risk projects
•        Long-term project commitment unwise because of potential changes to economic priorities
•        Users are unsure of their needs
•        Requirements are complex
•        New product line
•        Significant changes are expected (research and exploration)


5.  Agile SDLC’s
•        Speed up or bypass one or more life cycle phases
•        Usually less formal and reduced scope
•        Used for time-critical applications
•        Used in organizations that employ disciplined methods

Some Agile Methods
•        Adaptive Software Development (ASD)
•        Feature Driven Development (FDD)
•        Crystal Clear
•        Dynamic Software Development Method (DSDM)
•        Rapid Application Development (RAD)
•        Scrum

Extreme Programming (XP)
•For small-to-medium-sized teams developing software with vague or rapidly changing requirements
•Coding is the key activity throughout a software project
•     Communication among teammates is done with code
•Life cycle and behavior of complex objects defined in test cases – again in code


XP Practices (1-6)
•               Planning game – determine scope of the next release by combining business priorities and technical estimates
•               Small releases – put a simple system into production, then release new versions in very short cycle
•               Metaphor – all development is guided by a simple shared story of how the whole system works
•               Simple design – system is designed as simply as possible (extra complexity removed as soon as found)
•               Testing – programmers continuously write unit tests; customers write tests for features
•               Refactoring – programmers continuously restructure the system without changing its behavior to remove duplication and simplify

XP Practices (7 – 12)
•                  Pair-programming --  all production code is written with two programmers at one machine
•                  Collective ownership – anyone can change any code anywhere in the system at any time.
•                  Continuous integration – integrate and build the system many times a day – every time a task is completed.
•                  40-hour week – work no more than 40 hours a week as a rule
•                  On-site customer – a user is on the team and available full-time to answer questions
•                  Coding standards – programmers write all code in accordance with rules emphasizing communication through the code

XP is “extreme” because
•Commonsense practices taken to extreme levels

•         If code reviews are good, review code all the time (pair programming)
•         If testing is good, everybody will test all the time
•         If simplicity is good, keep the system in the simplest design that supports its current functionality. (simplest thing that works)
•         If design is good, everybody will design daily (refactoring)
•         If architecture is important, everybody will work at defining and refining the architecture (metaphor)
•         If integration testing is important, build and integrate test several times a day (continuous integration)
•         If short iterations are good, make iterations really, really short (hours rather than weeks)


XP References
Online references to XP at

•         http://www.extremeprogramming.org/
•         http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?ExtremeProgrammingRoadmap 
•         http://www.xprogramming.com/


6.  Feature Driven Design (FDD)
Five FDD process activities
•                   Develop an overall model – Produce class and sequence diagrams from chief architect meeting with domain experts and developers.
•                   Build a features list – Identify all the features that support requirements.  The features are functionally decomposed into Business Activities steps within Subject Areas. 
Features are functions that can be developed in two weeks and expressed in client terms with the template:  <action> <result> <object>                                  
i.e.     Calculate the total of a sale
•                   Plan by feature --  the development staff plans the development sequence of features
•                   Design by feature --  the team produces sequence diagrams for the selected features
•                   Build by feature – the team writes and tests the code 
            
             http://www.nebulon.com/articles/index.html



7.  Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM)
Applies a framework for RAD and short time frames

Paradigm is the 80/20 rule         – majority of the requirements can be delivered in a relatively short amount of time.

DSDM Principles
•                  Active user involvement imperative (Ambassador users)
•                  DSDM teams empowered to make decisions
•                  Focus on frequent product delivery
•                  Product acceptance is fitness for business purpose
•                  Iterative and incremental development - to converge on a solution
•                  Requirements initially agreed at a high level
•                  All changes made during development are reversible
•                  Testing is integrated throughout the life cycle
•                  Collaborative and co-operative approach among all stakeholders essential


DSDM Lifecycle
•     Feasibility study
•     Business study – prioritized requirements
•     Functional model iteration   
•       risk analysis
•       Time-box plan
•     Design and build iteration
•     Implementation

8.  Adaptive SDLC   
•Combines RAD with software engineering best practices
•     Project initiation
•     Adaptive cycle planning
•     Concurrent component engineering
•     Quality review
•     Final QA and release


Adaptive Steps
•                 Project initialization – determine intent of project
•                 Determine the project time-box (estimation duration of the project)
•                 Determine the optimal number of cycles and the time-box for each
•                 Write an objective statement for each cycle
•                 Assign primary components to each cycle
•                 Develop a project task list
•                 Review the success of a cycle
•                 Plan the next cycle

9.  Tailored SDLC Models
•        Any one model does not fit all projects
•        If there is nothing that fits a particular project, pick a model that comes close and modify it for your needs.
•        Project should consider risk but complete spiral too much – start with spiral & pare it done
•        Project delivered in increments but there are serious reliability issues – combine incremental model with the V-shaped model
•        Each team must pick or customize a SDLC model to fit its project


10.                Quality – the degree to which the software satisfies stated and implied requirements
•         Absence of system crashes
•         Correspondence between the software and the users’ expectations
•         Performance to specified requirements

Quality must be controlled because it lowers production speed, increases maintenance costs and can adversely affect business

11.                Quality Assurance Plan
•         The plan for quality assurance activities should be in writing
•         Decide if a separate group should perform the quality assurance activities
•         Some elements that should be considered by the plan are: defect tracking, unit testing, source-code tracking, technical reviews, integration testing and system testing.
•         Defect tracing – keeps track of each defect found, its source, when it was detected, when it was resolved, how it was resolved, etc
•         Unit testing – each individual module is tested
•         Source code tracing – step through source code line by line
•         Technical reviews – completed work is reviewed by peers
•         Integration testing --  exercise new code in combination with code that already has been integrated
•         System testing – execution of the software for the purpose of finding defects.



 

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