07 Effective Custom Software Development Process Steps in 2021

Introduction:

In the current scenario of technologically demanding lifestyles, software has become a vital element of daily lives in the twenty-first century. Today, it’s tough to fathom any activity that isn’t aided and made convenient by some form of technology. Businesses are dependent on sophisticated, custom-built software to fulfill their ever-expanding needs. Custom Software Development is one such software process that is transforming businesses all across the globe. 

The (SDLC) Software Development Life Cycle is a highly organized process with specific protocols and well-defined steps. Whenever a company requires a sophisticated system, software suite, or end-user web or mobile app, the successful project delivery is primarily dependent on a set of processes followed by the dedicated team.

Here are the seven most essential steps required to develop efficient custom software for businesses:

1. Brainstorming & Planning 

Like any other business process, it will be initiated by sitting down with the team and coming up with creative ideas once the initial thought is understood. The next step is to put a foolproof plan of action to make these ideas a reality. Selecting the project’s scope, establishing means and ways for the new system to achieve company strategic objectives, resource availability, cost-related concerns, timelines, and determining solutions are part of the meticulous planning phase of a Custom Software development company.

2. Analyzing the feasibility

Before the plan is implemented, the developers first need to gather profound information to make it happen. A feasibility study depicts all of the technical as well as financial factors that will influence the app development process: the time, resources, as well as the tasks, as well as team member involvement estimations, aid in calculating ROI and determining project cost along with the profit. 

An in-depth requirement analysis also aids in the early identification of risks, allowing risk mitigation techniques to be devised from the outset. Both the development team and the clients benefit from clear, structured documentation since it facilitates collaboration and understanding.

3. Creating the Blueprint 

This step of Custom Software Development entails compiling the ideas, the outline of inputs, and the action plan to the concrete conceptualization of the Software. During this phase, the project’s entire structure is developed, including the final prototype and mockups utilized in subsequent phases of the software development process. 

This is essentially a visual representation of everything from the solution’s functionality to the underlying hardware/software components, software tools for future development, structure capabilities, and processes to meet the proposed solution’s business demands and objectives. It’s time to move on to the actual development when the design has been determined.

4. Coding and development

This is the first step where the software starts materializing as a business product. The developers start writing the code and translating the documents from all the previous steps into actionable steps. This stage is also usually the longest because it is the spine of the entire process and contains several important considerations. The development team must ensure that their code complies with the software and stakeholders’ requirements specifications. 

However, if the requirements for the software project were rigorously met through the earlier stages of software development, the ready-to-use software is certain to meet them. The software development release cycle progresses from alpha, beta, release candidate, and final production build. The testing step begins when the solution’s complete architecture and planned functionality have been built.

5. Testing Phase 

This phase, which includes integration for Custom Software Development and system testing, begins after the program has been constructed and completed in the Coding stage. It may differ depending on the testing procedures used. However, the developers often employ various frameworks in conjunction with continuous integration to execute unit tests and automate compilation.

To guarantee that the code is clean and the solution’s business goals are accomplished, the team of Quality Assurance runs a variety of tests which includes systems integration, functionality testing, and interoperability, along with user acceptability testing. Verification and validation are critical steps in ensuring that the custom application or solution is completed effectively.

6. Execution and Set-Up 

The execution stage marks the completion of the custom software as a product, ready to be sent out. This is the stage in Custom Software Development, which is when the prepared solution is installed. It is carried out in the following manner, the implementation strategy. 

The newly developed and the tested app is then transferred to production, including data and component transfers, with only the particular changes being released in subsequent releases. The production will refer these changes to the team once they have properly implemented the completed software and used it for some time. The reworks suggested at this stage are usually refinements to ensure a better user interface and enhance the convenience of use.

7. Functioning and Maintenance

Maintenance and frequent upgrades are included in the final step of the software development lifecycle. Phase is given special attention since the product is polished, enhanced, updated, and fine-tuned during this time based on real-world input on its performance. That is the ideal time to solidify the application’s features, update its performance, and adjust it to the end-actual user’s demands, adding new features or meeting additional user criteria.

Conclusion:

The Custom Software Development process can look quite different for different types of businesses. Every industry has a unique set of needs, and the software is built to suit these. Fortunately, the software development life cycle can be changed or altered to meet the objectives of any project, app development, or software provider to identify specific steps that will help them reach their goals. The above-mentioned steps act as the foundational structure for establishing a flow and equipping each team member involved in technical and non-technical activities to deliver high-quality code and a solution in general.

Guest article written by: 

Kamal Singh is a technical expert, a passionate writer, and a seasoned IT professional and who is working with Devstringx, a best Angular development company. His role includes overall quality assessment and business development for Devstringx. He believes in sharing his strong knowledge base with learned concentration on entrepreneurship and business. LinkedIn:- https://www.linkedin.com/company/devstringx-technologies-pvt-ltd-/