Software development has implied one of the most constant technological advances of the last few years, which makes workers require more specific training to face the challenges that appear in the programming field.
Good software development is dedicated to the design, production and maintenance of software elements or assemblies that need to be integrated to create applications.
When it comes to software development, the programmer’s work must reflect the quality models followed by the company, adapting to deadlines and being organized to achieve the objectives of the project being worked on at that moment.
The Systems Development Life Cycle provides an international standard that software companies can use to build and improve their computer programs. It offers a defined structure for development teams to follow in the design, creation and maintenance of high-quality software. The aim of the IT software development process is to build effective products within a defined budget and timeline.
What are the tasks of a software developer?
In the software development process, the developer sees himself as a professional chef who knows how to cook at a high level and has a creative approach to creating new dishes.
He must begin by understanding the tastes of his customers and then create dishes so, in a manner of speaking, they suit those tastes. The software developer and his work in companies is essentially taking this same approach to create a good quality result.
As the developer’s role is linked to the implementation of software, understood as the way in which a design meets the goal for which it was created, his main task is to provide the necessary specifications so that it can actually be used.
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The software development engineer must adapt pieces of software so they can be integrated into the model, improving it or adding new functionalities. For its adaptation, it must review the programming languages, in order to solve problems and reuse elements that have already been integrated but implement its own code.
Another task that the developer must always keep in mind is to stay at the forefront of new technologies, constantly monitoring trends to generate greater sales opportunities by offering a product of international level, which generates new consumers.
In case you work optimizing the IT structure of a company instead of manufacturing products, being attentive to these latest developments will allow you to expand the capacity of resolution and ensure the competitiveness of the company in the technological world.
Software development engineer
This profession, which is in the same line of software development, is in charge of building the software and its applications from the beginning till the end.
A software engineer must be able to do everything a developer does, but with a different design philosophy. They must have a broader vision than developers, which means they will focus more on the design of the structure.
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Key steps in the software development process
The steps to be followed in the software development process must be fulfilled in order to achieve the expected result.
Also, a custom software development company must be aware of these steps in order to compete with competitors.
1. “Needs” identification
“Needs” identification is a market research and brainstorming stage of the process. Before a firm builds software, it needs to perform extensive market research to determine the product’s viability. Developers must identify the functions and services the software should provide so that its target consumers get the most out of it and find it necessary and useful.
There are several ways to get this information, including feedback from potential and existing customers and surveys.
2. Requirement analysis
Requirement analysis is the second phase in the software development life cycle. Here, stakeholders agree on the technical and user requirements and specifications of the proposed product to achieve its goals.
This phase provides a detailed outline of every component, the scope, the tasks of developers and testing parameters to deliver a quality product.
3. Design
Design is the third stage of the software development process. Here, architects and developers draw up advanced technical specifications they need to create the software to requirements.
Stakeholders will discuss factors such as risk levels, team composition, applicable technologies, time, budget, project limitations, method and architectural design.
The Design Specification Document (DSD) specifies the architectural design, components, communication, front-end representation and user flows of the product.
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4. Development and implementation
The next stage is the development and implementation of the design parameters. Developers code based on the product specifications and requirements agreed upon in the previous stages.
Following company procedures and guidelines, front-end developers build interfaces and back-ends while database administrators create relevant data in the database. The programmers also test and review each other’s code.
5. Testing
The testing phase checks the software for bugs and verifies its performance before delivering it to users. In this stage, expert testers verify the product’s functions to make sure it performs according to the requirements analysis document.
6. Deployment and maintenance
Once the software is defect-free, the developers can deliver it to customers.
After the release of a software’s production version, the IT software development company creates a maintenance team to manage issues clients encounter while using the product. Maintenance can be a hot-fix if it is a minor issue but severe software failures require an update. So now you know everything about what is software development and what are the specific tasks of software development engineer