Businesses seeking to outsource their software project must understand the entire development process. Knowing the steps involved helps manage expectations and contributes to delivering a high-quality, efficient, and user-friendly software product.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the key steps in the development process for a software product.
Understanding the software development process
The software development process refers to the approach to designing, building, and maintaining software. It guides development teams from initial brainstorming to ongoing maintenance so that applications adapt to evolving needs. By following this framework, software developers can deliver high-quality software that meets both deadlines and project requirements.
Development methodologies: Why pick Agile software development?
The agile model focuses on iterative progress and adaptability, making it the preferred approach for many software development projects. Agile development enables continuous improvement through regular customer feedback and testing by delivering functional software increments in short, manageable sprints, typically lasting two to four weeks. This way, the final product better aligns with the users’ needs.
Manao Software’s default approach to software development is Scrum, which is the most widely used dynamic Agile methodology.
Advantages of using Scrum software development
Scrum offers numerous benefits, including:
- Reduced risks: Incremental software product releases enable early issue identification and adjustments, minimizing the risk of costly mistakes later in the development process.
- Continuous feedback: Clients receive feedback after every sprint, allowing them to refine requirements and track progress early in the process.
- Adaptability: Scrum’s regular releases allow quick adjustments based on evolving business needs, keeping the project aligned with client feedback.
Key steps of a custom software development process using Scrum
Unlike traditional software development, Scrum projects involve repeated cycles of stages within each sprint, supporting continuous iteration, learning, and delivery. These stages include:
Product backlog creation and prioritisation
The product backlog is a dynamic, prioritised list of all desired features, enhancements, bug fixes, and technical tasks for the project. It is managed by the product owner, who continuously refines it based on stakeholder input, business goals, and user feedback.
Key practices at this stage include:
- Defining features as user stories (e.g., “As a user, I want to…”) to emphasize on delivering value
- Estimating each item for complexity and effort
- Regularly updating priorities to reflect changing business needs
Planning
Each sprint begins with a planning session where the Scrum development team defines the work for the upcoming sprint. Key actions include:
- Defining a sprint goal (i.e., a clear, concise objective guiding the team’s work)
- Identifying high-priority backlog items that can be realistically completed during the sprint
- Breaking down selected items into tasks and estimating how much effort they require
Design, development, and testing
During each sprint, the team collaborates to:
- Develop wireframes and prototypes.
- Design an intuitive user interface (UI) and user experience (UX).
- Refine the software architecture and database structure.
- Adjust the technology stack as needed to support sprint goals
The development team brings the software product to life by implementing the user interface and experience design using selected technologies. Key activities of the software development process include:
- Coding the front-end and back-end components
- Using version control systems to monitor and manage code changes
- Integrating various software components and application programming interfaces
- Regularly reviewing and refining the code throughout the software development process
- Regularly identifying any blockers or dependencies
Testing and quality assurance are integral parts of each sprint at Manao Software. Issues are identified and resolved continuously within the sprint. This ensures continuous feedback and rapid iteration, and product quality throughout the development and design process.
Sprint review and feedback
At the end of each sprint, the team holds a sprint review to demonstrate the completed work to stakeholders. Stakeholders provide feedback, and the product owner may adjust the backlog based on this input.
Sprint retrospective and continuous improvement
The team conducts a sprint retrospective, which is a structured discussion to reflect on the sprint and identify ways to improve collaboration, efficiency, and delivery.
Deployment
This stage of the software development life cycle involves transitioning the software to the production environment and making it available to users. Key steps include:
- Preparing the production environment for launch
- Deploying the software product to its designated platform (e.g., mobile, web)
- Ensuring all required infrastructure, such as servers and cloud services, is fully operational
- Releasing the new features or updates to end users
Under Scrum, deployment may be continuous or aligned with a planned release strategy, allowing for rapid release cycles. This flexibility supports frequent updates and ensures new features reach users as quickly as possible.
Ongoing maintenance and enhancements
Software development doesn’t stop at deployment. Agile emphasizes ongoing improvement and responsiveness to user needs. Essential activities during this phase of the development process include:
- Releasing updates to address bugs and enhance performance
- Monitoring the software to identify and resolve performance issues
- Implementing new features based on user feedback
- Ensuring compatibility with future operating systems and technologies
Scrum’s iterative nature allows teams to refine and expand the product long after the initial release.
Collaborating with a reliable software development team
When you outsource developing software to Manao Software, you can be confident that every phase of the Scrum software development process is executed with precision. Over 170 companies have trusted us to drive their growth through expert software development. From careful planning to rigorous testing, our team can deliver high-quality software tailored to your business needs. Schedule a consultation with us today to get started.
