Exploring the Different Types of Software Development

The mobile apps market is rapidly growing. According to Grand View Research, the global mobile app market was evaluated at approximately USD 253 billion in 2023 and is going to grow with a 14.3% CAGR by 2030. That’s why the need for qualified mobile development specialists is so relevant today. 

At the same time, one of the key features of a competent specialist is knowledge of the software development life cycle (SDLC) and which of the existing models is best to use in a specific project. The following article will overview the most popular SDLC models and explain where to apply them for the best results. 

What is the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?

The software development lifecycle is a methodology that guides the development team during the app creation process. Each of the development life cycle phases has its aims, timeframes, and challenges. Yet, a systemized approach toward software development ensures that the final product is of the highest quality. 

In comparison, there are other approaches to software development. For example, development teams can choose from the following options: 

• Application lifecycle management. It has a broader scope outside of the actual development process. It can include several SLDC development life cycle stages inside. 
• Software testing lifecycle. This method emphasizes debugging and elimination of possible errors in the product. 
• Product development lifecycle. This strategy includes market and product promotion after its development is complete. 

What Is the Purpose of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?

The SDLC’s clear division into development cycle stages ensures that software is developed in a controlled environment. The systematic approach helps to avoid such challenges as: 

• Budget breaches.
• Project overruns and crunches 
• Failure to meet the requirements 
• Expired deadlines

Creative freedom is important during the software development process. Yet, the SDLC approach ensures that all the creativity and revolutionary solutions are channeled constructively. 

While following the life cycle of software development, each team member knows what task they should do and its deadline. 

What are the 7 Phases of SDLC? 

There are seven common SDLC phases: 

1. Requirements analysis 
2. Planning
3. Design 
4. Development
5. Testing
6. Deployment
7. Maintenance

Let’s consider them in more detail.

Requirements Analysis 

It is the initial stage at which the developer's team evaluates the required features for the app. It defines how long the app will be in development, the budget’s size, and the deadlines. 

This step answers such questions as: 

• What is the objective of the app? 
• Is it an upgrade or a brand-new software? 
• What are the expected results? 

Planning 

The project can be planned after its goals and desired results are established. Planning in SDLC defines the technological stack and project roles. The project roadmap is also developed during the planning phase of SDLC. 

Design 

The software blueprint is created during the design stage. Ideas turn into features, architecture, and UI/UX design. Designing also includes consideration of the software's platforms and security as a part of SDLC processes. 

Design can undergo several iterations before reaching its final look. During this phase, teams usually create a software prototype to see how all the features work together. This phase concludes with design document specification — a text description of the app’s functionality to share with stakeholders and within the team. 

Development 

Development is the long-lasting of the SDLC steps. During this stage, the team implements planned features and functionality into actual software. Tools for progress tracking and version control, such as Git, are common in the software development stage.

Testing 

Testing comes after the implementation phase in SDLC. It is a rigorous process during which all software elements are evaluated. Testing can include: 

• Performance testing
• Security testing
• Integration testing
• Alpha and beta testing, and so on 

The result of the testing and debugging software development cycle phases should be a product meets its specifications and is ready for the commercial environment. 

Deployment 

Usually, the apps undergo testing and development in a secluded, special environment. Deployment implies transferring the software to the commercial space. The deployment phase includes final testing of the working product and gathering feedback from a limited audience. 

The product is ready for full-fledged commercial use when the software development stages are over. 

Maintenance 

Maintenance is the final stage of the SDLC cycle. It includes software updates, security, and performance optimization. An upgrade or upscale of the software may be required in the future. In this case, the SDLC begins from the first stage, and the major update undergoes all the steps mentioned. 

Most Common SDLC Models 

The SDLC standards are common across the industry and development teams. However, there are different SDLC models. Each model serves its own purpose and offers a different order in which the different phases are performed.

SDLC Agile Model 

The Agile SDLC model is the hallmark of modern industry. This model implies dividing the bigger tasks into smaller chunks and working on their implementation. The Agile method emphasizes communication between cross-functional teams and stakeholders. 

Agile also implies frequent feedback gathering and analysis. Rigorous quality control is also an integral part of the Agile model. 

SDLC Big Bang Model

The Big Bang model is an almost informal approach to the SDLC cycle. It ignores any planning or assessment and jumps straight into the coding. Such an approach is more risky than others. However, the model works best if delivery time is critical. 

The Big Bang model can work for you if you wish to experiment or test waters in new markets. 

SDLC DevOps Model

DevOps is a combination of development (Dev) and operations (Ops) teams to streamline the delivery of software products. The combined practices require service providers of highly skilled specialists. The main DevOps principles are continuous integration and delivery at the enterprise software development level. These methods help automate the process and streamline management tasks. 

The DevOps model can strain the budget. However, the result is worth the cost. The DevOps SDLC cycle ensures that the product is in a deployable state and can be swiftly modified. 

SDLC Iterative Model

An Iterative model is another representative SDLC cycle. Unlike the Agile model, iterative SDLC does not require continuous customer involvement. Besides, the iterative model has a more defined structure. 

The Iterative model implies iterating the software and making changes between the cycles. Such an approach works well for expanded teams and allows the desired results to be achieved without failing deadlines or breaching the budget. 

SDLC Lean Model

The Lean model is one of the oldest SDLC cycles that has persisted until today. It aims to achieve maximum efficiency in resource management. Unlike Agile, it focuses on the highest possible quality instead of close and consistent communication with the client. 

It also takes a broader than Iterative model approach and improves the overall development process rather than the product itself. Lean is more philosophy than a precise model. As an SDLC model, Lean will ensure the quality of the product and client satisfaction before everything else. 

SDLC Spiral Model

The Spiral model is a combination of Iterative and Waterfall models (this one will be discussed below), taking the best features from both approaches. The model consists of spirals, and each spiral has the following steps: 

• Planning 
• Risk analysis 
• Development 
• Testing

Such an approach allows risk mitigation at the early stage of the project. While being time-consuming, the Spiral model can be a fail-proof net for your project. 

SDLC Waterfall Model

If you are looking for something straightforward and easy to manage – the Waterfall model is your choice. It takes the SDLC structure at face value and follows each step consecutively. The Waterfall model has its risks. It is rigid, and if changes or feedback appear in later stages, it will be hard to implement them. At the same time, the Waterfall model struggles with scalability. 

On the other hand, it can spare the headache of complex management and task delegation. 

Conclusion 

Software development is a complex process that requires structure and precision. The Software Development Lifecycle provides such a structure. In seven steps, a software development team can clearly see goals and meet the client’s requirements. 

Various SDLC models fit different needs and project scopes, and we know how to work with all of them. If you need specialists for custom software solutions, we are ready to answer your call and create a high-quality product. Contact us to discuss your project in detail.

Telehealth, simply put, is some type of delivery. It helps to provide health care services when patients and health professionals are separated by distance via remote technologies. Telehealth uses technologies for the exchange of information for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries for the patients. Live video conferencing, mobile health apps and remote patient monitoring (RPM) are examples of technologies used in telehealth.

It’s Healthtech time

Telehealth is improving the healthcare industry in many ways, the first of which is increasing its accessibility. Telehealth allows specialists to visit patients virtually from any place in the world by improving access as well as making a wider range of healthcare services available via telemedicine.

Today’s Telehealth environment consists of a global ecosystem of myriad digital solutions.  There are two alarming end-users trends that you should pay attention to when considering Telehealth design and solutions.

1. What doctors struggle the most with
2. What people looking for when they choose the healthcare providers

Providing virtualized healthcare to any place in the world is one of the best-known applications of telehealth. But the medical industry is using it in several other ways, including:

• Urgent help in distance. It can be a headache or sore throat. There are many medical complaints that aren’t life-threatening, but they need some professional attention. Virtual care services allow skilled health personnel to treat minor complaints, including providing appropriate prescriptions.
• Stay in contact. Qualified medical personnel can use messages, phone and video calls to follow up the patients after they are discharged from the hospital. This way, improves worker productivity from not having to take time off and travel to appointments and ensures each patient understands the importance and carries out recovery and treatment plans. Also, telehealth platforms can automate much of the communication process, including sending reminders to the patients.
• Updating online prescription. Telehealth provides the possibility to update online prescriptions even If you’ve been unable to get to your own doctor to refill a current prescription.
• Monitoring of patients with chronic conditions. For these patients, it is one of the best benefits of telehealth. Virtual care helps those who have mobility issues, mental illness, and other conditions that may prevent them from going to in person medical appointments.
• Facilitating care to rural areas. Telehealth is a great way to provide patients in places that are outside the current health delivery system with access to quality care. In the event of a medical emergency, telemedicine makes it possible to coordinate with specialists in other regions without wasting time to provide patients with effective treatment.
• Increased patient satisfaction. In addition to referrals, many patients assess and choose healthcare providers through online reviews. As such, you must have positive reviews that will attract new patients. Telemedicine helps improve patient satisfaction scores by providing convenience of care and reducing wait time. The providers have the opportunity to offer remote services to the patients and make it convenient for them to receive medical attention. Also, this process reduces in-hospital visits.
  

All right, let’s move on to the design

Telehealth platforms require a unique approach to service design. As you can imagine, it isn’t the same way, say, for a food delivery service.

Telehealth is not about technology, it’s about people

That’s a good reminder that you need to create space for telehealth that provides human connections and assistance. The healthcare industry is unique and complex, and it can be challenging to set up. Establishing fundamental principles to guide telehealth design will help us keep sight of the user experience and user journey throughout different healthcare systems.

In this article, we’ll highlight the important and unique challenges in the design faced by digital health companies and startups.

1. Research. To begin, you need a shared understanding of how you usually provide face to face care. You will need a solid understanding of the patient’s journey through your service.
2. Construction. Based on our research findings, you need to discuss them with your client. There is the moment when you draft innovative solutions and delve into user journeys. We identify the most promising ideas based on jointly developed options. Service design can be quite abstract. The main idea is to find key service touchpoints.
3. Strategize and develop Next, it is necessary to work with your clients to co-create a product roadmap and business strategy. Together with medical professionals, you develop an extensive plan of the envisioned telehealth design, listing interactions between users, new processes, and workflows. Also, don’t forget to define the physical and digital things that will be used. By the end of this step, you’ve created visual content and material to start the development process.
4. Taking it live. From our experience, we recommend turning digital and physical artifacts into minimum viable products (MVP).  MVP is essential to clinical trials. There is a product that has basic features and can be used to get feedback from the users.

After the main last modifications, it’s time for launch! At this stage, it’s important to provide testing to ensure that the envisioned workflow and interactions are happening as intended.

That’s it

To sum up, telemedicine is full of benefits for patients and healthcare providers. When people have had a taste of telehealth, they’re willing to continue using this convenient care option.

Telehealth’s future looks very bright, doesn’t it?

Also, it’s obvious to see continued strong growth and upgrade around devices, communication channels, telemedicine services, and telehealth platforms. Look for them to become increasingly user-friendly and convenient. As this happens, we can expect to see a resulting increase in users. After all, good design is the right way to improve engagement.

Designers will need to imagine themselves in both the patients’ and providers’ roles during the preparation for the start to create the design for telehealth. Every detail of a visit, from the method of scheduling appointments to the distribution of follow-up procedures, should be carefully planned to ensure the best outcomes and clear understanding.

We can expect to see digital pharmacies, virtual appointments, online triage tools, and remote monitoring gain in popularity. It may well become the new normal in healthcare.

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In the design and operation of digital products, it is essential to detect errors and ensure that these products fully comply with specifications (both generally accepted and defined by their owners). For example, in the field of healthcare, using such solutions directly impacts the health and life of patients and the level of efficiency of medical services. So, let’s delve into this topic. 

Objective of Quality Assurance in Healthcare App Development

So, let’s find out why QA is important. In general, it is one of the integral parts of software development, especially in the medical field. After all, in the field of medical services, the fate of the patient's life and health is decided every day. Digital solution that looks and operates as intended (of course, thanks to the quality assurance benefits) provides the ability to prevent all potential errors as efficiently as possible and ensures that applications meet modern medical standards. 

Regarding the importance of quality assurance in healthcare applications, the following points can be distinguished:

• Safety of patients: At the heart of QA in healthcare software development is patient safety. The timely testing of healthcare applications that could impact a patient's health is a critical aspect. This includes verifying medicine dosage, ensuring the accuracy of diagnostic algorithms, and the functionality of the patient monitoring system. Any malfunction, even for a brief period, can lead to serious errors, underscoring the importance of reliability assurance.
• Data privacy: The guarantee of absolute protection of patients' personal data from unauthorized access. Due to their specificity, medical applications regularly process a huge amount of information, so the introduction of modern encryption methods is critical.
• Compliance with regulatory requirements: A number of modern healthtech standards like HIPAA and GDPR are created for a reason. Therefore, absolutely all software should be developed to meet these requirements. Civilized countries actively implement official app development rules. If these laws are ignored, it is undoubtedly a direct path to legal accountability, with all the attendant consequences. The implementation of reliable digital solutions reduces the chances of getting a fine or a lawsuit until the loss of a license.
• Optimization of regular processes: The higher the efficiency of the application, the better the performance and accuracy of work within the medical professional team. In this way, medical staff can access the necessary information, thus minimizing the time spent on data processing. This guarantees both speed and high accuracy of decision-making regarding the further treatment of patients.

Risks Associated with Poor Software Quality in Healthcare

No one will argue that some medical institutions ignore the risks of using legacy software that doesn’t meet the modern healthtech regulations. However, this is a very serious and critical topic that can significantly impact patients' safety and lives and the effectiveness of daily processes.

Numerous errors, incorrect diagnoses, and, as a result, incorrectly prescribed treatment all directly threaten the patient's life and health. Also, do not exclude the occurrence of legal and reputational problems (fines or a prominent indicator of loss of confidence on the part of the public, both patients and employees of a particular medical institution). Unreliable digital solutions automatically complicates the interaction between employees. It leads to a decrease in the productivity of daily medical practice because it complicates the possibility of uninterrupted access to all necessary data and the exchange of information between departments and specialists.

Types of Testing in Healthcare Applications Development

There are different types of healthcare application testing, but the most common and popular among them are the following types:

• Performance testing: It includes analyzing the application's speed of action and navigation, taking into account different levels of load.‍
• Regression testing: It defines how much each of the module functions meets the requirements.‍
• Security testing: It implies checking the protection of each patient's data from illegal access by unauthorized users.‍
• Usability testing: This example of quality assurance in healthcare is designed to evaluate how user-friendly the application is, ensuring it is convenient for both healthcare industry employees and patients of all ages.

Healthcare app testing features are primarily critical, including the need for strict compliance with regulatory requirements and safety regulations.

The Future of Quality Assurance in Healthcare

Now, knowing the answer to the question: “What is quality assurance in healthcare?”, let’s talk about its future. Specifically, today, we can define three the most sustainable trends:

• Implementation of AI and ML-based solutions aimed at automating the testing process, independently identifying bugs, and preventing them in advance;
• Combination of DevOps and Agile, which ensures closer interaction between development and testing teams, ultimately reducing the number of bugs and speeding up their fixing;
• Using cloud-based testing platforms that provide scalability of QA healthcare scenarios without compromising the budget.

However, in the coming years we can expect something more revolutionary than the actualization of the above-mentioned directions since the healthtech sector is actively invested in by both governments and private institutions.

Conclusion

Now, you know the answer to the question: “What is quality assurance?” and can understand the role of QA in software testing – generally speaking, it is crucial regarding ensuring patient safety and the performance of the healthcare delivery process. Minimizing risks during the medical quality assurance process and creating reliable medical applications are possible only through the use of modern technologies and compliance with all official standards provided by a qualified service provider.