Software Product Development: Definition, Types and Process!

Software Product Development

Software product development is a complex process that needs much planning. A project can fail if it lacks a solid step-by-step strategy. To avoid this, select the best appropriate approach and arrange the process appropriately.

Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about software product development.

What is software product development?

Software product development involves creating a new product that meets specific market requirements. It is a systematic and logical process that results in completely new software or an improved version of an existing product. It always strives to achieve a certain goal, whether changing the present market or providing a new consumer experience. It is made up of various processes and phases that result in a high-quality, robust software product.

This process is important to the development of a business. Whether a startup or a well-established company, developing software products gives you a technological advantage over your competitors. It provides an innovative solution as well as a new product for commercialization.

Types of Software Product Development 

1. Products for System Software

By managing the computer system’s resources, system software applications can make application development easier. Examples include operating systems, database management systems, networking software, translators, and software utilities.

2. Software Programming Products

Programming software, sometimes known as development tools, includes compilers, text editors, debuggers, and linkers. They assist software developers in developing, debugging, and maintaining other programs and apps.

3. Software for Applications

Application software is a type of application or product that may be used to do tasks. Data management software, Office productivity suites, media players, and other application software are all well-known.

4. Products for Embedded Software

Embedded System Software controls devices and equipment via telecommunications networks, automobiles, industrial robots, and other devices.

Software Product Development Process

1. Ideation and planning

Everything begins with a great idea! However, to be carried out, that idea must be thoroughly evaluated. The first and most important phase in software product development is careful planning, which includes determining the project’s scope, explaining how the new software system will achieve business model objectives, cost-related challenges, resource availability, and deadlines.

2. Design

A customized software product design establishes specific guidelines and procedures. The final prototype and mockups required for the next phases of this process are utilized to build the whole software structure. Once the design has been determined, it is time to begin development.

3. Development & coding

The development stage of the software product development process is about developing code and turning design specifications into actual software. This is the longest stage of development since it is the base of the entire process. Software product development company ensures that their code fulfills the software requirements specifications, complies to the expectations of stakeholders, and so on.

 4. Integration and testing

Now that the software has been developed and completed, the next stage is to begin integration and system testing. The Quality Assurance (OA) team performs a number of tests, including system integration, functionality testing, interoperability testing, and user acceptability testing. This is done to ensure that the code is clean and that the solution’s business goals are accomplished.

5. Implementation and deployment

This is the stage in which the build software system is installed. Based on the implementation plan, it is a step-by-step process. The newly built and tested software system is transferred to production and the required improvements are deployed.

6. Operations and maintenance

The last stage of the software product development lifecycle includes ongoing software updates and maintenance. This step is given special attention since the product is polished, enhanced, updated, and fine-tuned during this stage based on real-world feedback on its performance.

Conclusion

As companies invest time and money in new technologies, the importance of the this process is obvious. If you use a predefined software product development strategy, project execution and code development will be more fluid.

Article and permission to publish here provided by Filip Novak. Originally written for Supply Chain Game Changer and published on December 28, 2022.