Iterative Model in SDLC

Phases of Iterative Model

There are seven phases of the iterative development life cycle, given below:

1. Requirement collection and analysis: In this phase, customers' needs are obtained, and an analyst determines whether the requirements will be met or not. The analyst determines whether or not the requirement will be fulfilled within budget. After that, the software team moves on to the next stage.
2. Design: During the design phase, the team uses several diagrams such as a Data Flow Diagram, an Activity Diagram, a Class Diagram, a State Transition Diagram, and so on to create the program.
3. Implementation: During the implementation phase, requirements are defined in a coding language and converted into software programs.
4. Testing: After the development step is completed, Software Testing begins utilizing various test methodologies. Other test techniques such as white, black, and grey are the most frequent test methods.
5. Deployment: After all of the processes have been completed, the program is deployed to its working environment.
6. Review: Following the deployment of the product, a review phase is conducted to assess the behavior and validity of the generated product. The Discovery of any errors restarts the process from the requirement collection stage.
7. Maintenance: Following software deployment in the working environment, there may be some issues, faults, or new upgrades that require maintenance. Debugging and new additional options are included in maintenance.

Iterative Model Approach

Source: https://www.tutorialandexample.com/iterative-model-in-software-engineering

Also read,  V Model in Software Engineering

When to use Iterative Model

The iterative model can be used in the following scenarios:-

• The system's requirements are well stated and understood.
• Although significant criteria must be established, some functionality or proposed upgrades may change over time.
• The market limitation has a time limit.
• The development team uses and learns a new technology while working on the project.
• Resources with the required skill sets are in short supply and will be hired on a contract basis for specific iterations.
• Some features and ambitions are high-risk and may change in the future.

Advantages of Iterative Model

The advantages of the iterative model are as follows:-

• It is simple to test and troubleshoot during minor iterations.
• Parallel development is possible to plan.
• It is easily adaptable to the project's ever-changing requirements.
• During iteration, risks are discovered and resolved.
• Changing the scope/requirements is less expensive.
• It takes less time to get up and to run.
• Larger, mission-critical projects are better suited.
• Software is generated early in the life cycle, allowing client assessment and input.

Disadvantages of Iterative Model

The disadvantages of the iterative model are as follows:-

• It isn't appropriate for minor tasks.
• More resources may be necessary.
• Because of unsatisfactory needs, the design might be altered many times.
• Changes in requirements might lead to budget overruns.
• Due to changing needs, the project's completion date has yet to be determined.
• Although the cost of change is lower, it is not well suited to shifting needs.
• There is a need for more managerial attention.
• System architecture or design challenges may occur because not all requirements are acquired at the start of the complete life cycle.

Also check out - Phases of Compiler

Frequently Asked Questions

When should developers use the Iterative Model?

Developers use the Iterative Model when all the system's needs are fully specified and understood. The primary requirements are stated, but some functionality and suggested additions change as the development process progresses.

What is meant by iteration in the Iterative Model?

The Iterative Model's releases are completed in iterations, which are precise and definite periods. The Iterative Model allows you to go back in time and visit the initial phases where the changes were made.

Why is iterative better than waterfall?

Iterative development is often preferred over the waterfall model because it allows for flexibility, adaptation to changing requirements, and early identification of issues through regular feedback loops. This iterative approach fosters collaboration and continuous improvement throughout the development process.

What are some implementations or examples of the Iterative Model?

A subset of the eventual product evolves from iteration to iteration to become the final product or program. The iterative paradigm includes prototyping, Rational Unified Process (RUP), agile development, and Rapid Application Development.

Conclusion

This article extensively discussed the Iterative Model in SDLC. The iterative model in SDLC offers a dynamic and adaptable approach to software development, emphasizing collaboration, flexibility, and continuous improvement. 

We hope that this blog has helped you enhance your knowledge of the Iterative Model and other software development processes. For learning more about software project management or other models like Agile Model or Big Bang Model, check out Code Studio's blog site.