Normal Phases in Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) consists of several phases that are commonly accepted as standard practices in software engineering. These phases ensure that software projects are well-organized, efficient, and lead to successful outcomes. The traditional SDLC phases include: Requirement Gathering, Design, Implementation, Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance. However, there are various methodologies and frameworks that may add or modify these phases to better fit specific project needs or organizational practices. The following are some typical phases of the SDLC:

1. Requirement Gathering and Analysis: This initial phase involves understanding and documenting the requirements of the software from stakeholders. The goal is to capture what the users need from the system and to create a detailed requirement specification document.
2. Design: Once the requirements are gathered, the design phase involves creating detailed architecture and design documents. This includes defining system architecture, data models, and the overall structure of the software.
3. Implementation: During this phase, the actual code is written based on the design documents. This is where the software is developed and integrated with other systems or components as needed.
4. Testing: Testing is a critical phase where the software is rigorously tested for defects and issues. This includes unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and user acceptance testing to ensure that the software meets the specified requirements and functions correctly.
5. Deployment: Once testing is complete and the software is deemed stable, it is deployed to the production environment. This phase includes installation, configuration, and sometimes data migration.
6. Maintenance: After deployment, the software enters the maintenance phase. This involves monitoring the software, fixing any issues that arise, and making updates or enhancements as needed.

Not Typically Included in the SDLC Phases:
While the above phases are standard, some practices may introduce phases or activities that are not part of the traditional SDLC. For example, some may include phases like Marketing or Customer Training which, while important for the overall success of a software project, are not considered core phases of the SDLC itself. Marketing involves promoting the software, and customer training is about educating users on how to use the software effectively. These activities are crucial but are generally considered outside the core SDLC framework.

In summary, while various methodologies might adapt or add additional phases to fit their specific needs, the core phases of the SDLC typically focus on Requirement Gathering, Design, Implementation, Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance. Marketing and Customer Training, though important, are not generally classified as standard phases within the traditional SDLC framework.