What is the Waterfall Process
The Waterfall Process, it’s History, Usages, Their Advantages, and Disadvantages.
How did it start?
The waterfall process was first time introduced by Dr. Winston W. Rice on a paper published in 1970. In simple words, the Waterfall Model is a software development process. The waterfall process emphasizes these principles that a logical step should be taken in all the sequential steps of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), such as the steps coming down from the rising waterfall process. However, in recent years the popularity of the waterfall model has waned in favor of more agile methods. Nevertheless, the logical nature of the sequencing process used in the waterfall method cannot be denied, and it is common in the industry, a somewhat simple design in the beginning.
In this article, we will look at what specific steps are taken in the waterfall process, when and where it can be best implemented, and scenarios where it can be avoided in favor of other design philosophies.
The 6 Stages of the waterfall process
In fact, building software into practice with a waterfall model within a new software project is a straightforward process, thanks in large part to the step-by-step nature of the process. There is a slight difference in the number and explanation of the steps involved in the waterfall method, depending on which developer you ask (and even the year during which you ask developer). Nevertheless, these concepts are all the same and include a wide range of what it takes to start with a theory and develop a broad, direct application.
- Requirements: During this initial phase, the application’s potential requirements procedure is analyzed in detail and written into a specific document, which is the basis for all future developments. The result is usually a document of requirements that explains what the application should do, but not how it should be done.
- Analysis: In this second step, a complete and very detailed analysis of the system is performed to properly develop the models and business logic that will be used in the software application.
- Design: This phase covers a wide range of technical design requirements, including programming language, data layers, services, and more. A design will usually be customized to indicate how the business logic involved in the analysis will be properly implemented.
- Coding: The source code is written in this fourth step. In this stage, the developer implements all the models, business logic, and service integration that were described in the previous steps.
- Testing: During this phase, Beta Testers, QA, and all other testers regularly detect and report issues in the application that need to be resolved. Creating a “necessary iteration” of the previous coding step for this step is not an easy task, so it is important to correct the revealed error correctly.
- Operations: Finally, the software is ready for deployment directly in the environment. Not only sound education but his alertness and dedication too are most required.
The Advantages of the waterfall process
However, in recent years there has been a gradual decline in the waterfall model in favor of more agile methods. But it still has many benefits. Specially for large projects and organizations that require strict procedures and deadlines available in these cold, turbulent waters.
- According to the shifting teams: Although not necessarily specific to the waterfall model alone, the use of the waterfall method allows the project as a whole to be more detailed, robust with the scope, and to maintain the design structure, like all clear Due to plans and documentation steps. This is especially suitable for large companies, organizations that come to the members and see the life of the project, through which the burden of design can be placed on the basic documents and no team member has to be ignored.
- The Structured Organization: Although some say it is a burden rather than a benefit, the reality is that the waterfall model is compelling. Besides, even the organization building has spoken of the project being exceptionally disciplined in its design and structure. Most large projects will include detailed procedures for managing every aspect of the project, as needed, from design and development to testing and implementation.
- Waterfall Process Allows for Early Design Changes: Although it may be difficult to make later design changes in the process, the waterfall approach automatically improves the initial changes in the life cycle. This is great when you work with the development team and the clients to get the specific documents out in the first two steps. The reason is that the changes can be made quickly and with minimal effort, as no coding or implementation has taken place so far.
- Suitable for Milestone-Focused Development: Due to the inherent linear structure of the waterfall project, such applications are always suitable for organizations or teams that work well under a milestone and data-driven model. With clear, solid, and well-understood steps that everyone on the team can understand and prepare for, creating a timeline for the whole process and specific markers and stones for each stage and even completion Assigning mail is relatively easy. This is not to suggest that software development is often delayed, but that the waterfall process is a type of project that requires a deadline.
The Disadvantages of the Waterfall Process
No doubt that there are advantages to human-made inventions, there are also disadvantages. There are some similar flaws in the waterfall process. Let’s take a closer look at these flaws.
While some elements in software development never change, many other things often fall apart in the process. Dr. Winston W. Rice’s initial proposal, now known as the waterfall model, was to break the earth. When it was first published in 1970, there were several cracks in its theory.
- Non Adaptive Design Constraints: Although only a whole book can be written on this subject, the most detrimental aspect of the waterfall model is the inherent lack of adaptation at all stages of the developmental period. When the test in step five reveals a fundamental flaw in the design of the system, it requires not only a dramatic leap in the process. But in some cases, it can often lead to a devastating feeling about the legitimacy of the entire system. Although experienced teams and developers would (rightly) argue that such disclosures should not occur if the system is properly designed in the first place. Especially when the stages are often delayed until the end of the waterfall process.
- Ignore moderate user / client feedback: Due to the rigorous step-by-step process of implementing the waterfall process, another particularly difficult problem is that the feedback provided by the user or client late in the development cycle can often be too short, too late. Although project managers can clearly implement a process to return to the previous stage due to an expected need or a change from a client. So, it will be expensive and time-consuming for both the development team and the client.
- Delayed The Period of Testing: Phase most modern SDLC models try to integrate testing as a basic and ever-present process during development. The waterfall model avoids late testing for life cycles. Not only does this mean that most bugs or even design issues can’t be traced back to this process, but it also encourages poor coding methods because testing is just a thought.
Final Thoughts
As mentioned above, despite undergoing a clear testing phase during the implementation of the waterfall model project, this test is often considered very rare and takes a long time to test. Obviously, it can cost a lot in these stages of testing. In addition to the general testing phase, you and your team should insist on introducing an effective management tool for the developmental life of your project to bring the project error to light in a timely manner. So, that your team can fix it and complete the project with minimal loss or expense.
Hope you enjoyed reading this article on Waterfall Action. We would like to say something more about it. If you read the history of successful projects in the world right now. So you can imagine that a lot of software, digital products, popular apps, and websites, all of these did not reach these goals in the first place. After many failures, difficulties, and competitions, they have reached this place. Many of these software’s have a history of more than half a century. If the expert paid attention to the waterfall model to correct the defects of the waterfall process. So, this too will one day become a good simple software. That developers will be able to use easily and for better results.
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