SDLC Deployment Phase: Things you need to know

Last Updated on September 15, 2023 by

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a process followed by software developers to design, develop, test and deploy software. The Deployment Phase is the last stage of the SDLC where the software is made available to users for use. The key activities in this phase include packaging the software, installing it on servers, configuring it for use and then testing it to ensure that it is working as expected.

The critical success factors for this phase include having a well-defined plan for deployment, ensuring that all the necessary resources are available, and having a team of experienced personnel who can carry out the deployment smoothly.

To ensure a successful deployment, it is important to have a clear understanding of the environment in which the software will be deployed, and to have a detailed plan for each step of the deployment process. It is also important to test the software thoroughly before deploying it to avoid any unexpected problems. Some of the challenges that may be faced during deployment include compatibility issues, hardware or software requirements that were not anticipated, and difficulties in rollback or undoing the changes made during deployment. Keep reading to ensure the smoothness of this stage at your company.

1. What is the Deployment Phase in  SDLC methodology

The deployment phase in the software development life cycle is when the code is actually released to production. This is where DevOps tools and solutions come in – they help to automate the process and make it more efficient. The deployment phase can be divided into two parts: pre-production and production. Pre-production is when the code is tested and made ready for release. Production is when the code is actually deployed to the live servers. In order to ensure a successful deployment, it is important to have a solid plan in place and to test the code thoroughly before release. With the right DevOps tools and solutions in place, the deployment phase can be a smooth and successful process.

2. What are the key activities in this phase

This phase usually involves DevOps tools and solutions such as continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD).  CI and CD are essential tools for ensuring a successful deployment. CI helps to automate the process of building and testing the code, while CD helps to automate the process of deploying the code to production. These tools help to make the process more efficient and less prone to errors.

The key activities in this phase include migrating the code to a pre-production environment, setting up a staging environment, configuring the server, and deploying the software. Deployment can be done manually or using automation tools which is much preferred. After the software is deployed, it needs to be monitored and maintained. This includes fixing bugs, updating features, and adding new capabilities. DevOps tools and solutions can help to automate these activities and make them more efficient.

CI and CD are essential for a smooth deployment process. By automating the build and testing process, as well as the process of deploying to production, these tools help to ensure that the process is efficient and error-free.

3. What are the critical success factors for this phase

Testing is the most critical point that the project is undergoing at this stage of the SDLC cycle. In order to ensure a successful deployment, Quality Assurance needs to actively step in as any system is only as good as its working implementation. The critical point here is to prove through the testing that the expected outcomes of how the system will behave correspond to the actual ones.

A QA team takes an active part at this stage, though, the design and the development of the tests usually begin at the first stage of the SDLC process. Verifying and validating the results of the operational metrics for the elements of the system within a variety of test scenarios can take some time. This is why automation with the help of DevOps tools plays quite a time-sensitive role.

For further implementation of CI/CD methodologies, there must be implemented cloud solutions in order to create the staging environment with a monitoring system to collect insights on the system behavior in a test environment and then integrate them into a working version of the product. This is also a time when a designated person comes in with the aim of configuring the protocols for maintenance and supervising and ensuring the security and access restrictions for the sensitive data of the web app.

4. How can you ensure a successful deployment

There’s no denying that deploying software can be a challenge. But with the right DevOps tools and solutions in place, it doesn’t have to be a headache. One of the key elements of a successful deployment is cooperation between DevOps engineers, software developers, and testers. By working together, they can ensure that the code is ready for production and that the final product meets all the requirements. In addition, DevOps engineers can provide valuable insights into how the code can be improved for future deployments. By collaborating closely, DevOps and software teams can make deployments a breeze.

Another point mentioned above is about making use of pre-production environments and staging areas. Once you do a pull request, with the help of automation tools, the merge will ensue and the environment will be available to be accessed through a link. It can be used to test the product both manually and automatically and mature successful companies will usually opt for both of the options.

As for the aim of those tests, it is not a question of what you should test while it is mostly a question of what you can skip testing. Oftentimes, running those tests in the cloud costs money and, in light of this, savvy companies choose to miss out on the tests in some browsers. In addition, some tests are time-consuming and take a long time to complete while there are unit tests that basically target the same component though not so comprehensively. This is another way to cut corners.

Conclusion

The SDLC Deployment phase is the final stage in the software development process. At this stage, the code is ready for production and needs to be deployed to the production environment. Deployment can be a challenge, but with the right DevOps tools and solutions in place, it doesn’t have to be. By working closely with DevOps engineers, software developers, and testers, you can ensure that the code is ready for production and that the final product meets all the requirements. In addition, DevOps engineers can provide valuable insights into how the code can be improved for future deployments.

Read more: Why is custom software development better and what products can be outsourced?

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