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Software development is one of the biggest and most important industries in today’s modern age. There are dozens of programming languages and numerous tools to help facilitate the oftentimes tedious processes associated with programming. Such tools range from connecting processes on a molecular, behind-the-scenes level while other tools assist with testing and project management, two important pillars that ensure streamlined production.
And in speaking of production — bringing your software to life once it passes its developmental stages is the second half of the process, and arguably the most important. It can be daunting. Indeed, software production takes several key steps to ensure what was developed succeeds when put to the ultimate test.
In this blog, we’re covering best practices every developer should know when putting their program through production. By the end of this piece, you’ll be well-equipped with the knowledge necessary to ensure a smooth and successful software production process.
Stages of Software Production
The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) consists of the following activities that work together to mature a concept into a software product:
- Requirements: This entails gathering and analyzing the requirements for the program to ensure you have a firm grasp of what is needed and a roadmap for how to get there.
- Design: A timeline is broken down you’ll also want to identify any specific designs and workflows for the application. You may want to design specific pages and provide more details of what will be created.
- Development: Assign specific tasks to each individual and provide them with the necessary documentation of the requirements and designs.
- Testing: The application is tested for quality and user acceptance, undergoing rigorous examination against strict criteria to ensure the highest levels of performance.
- Production Implementation: It’s time to use your Docker registry for production. For the first time deployment, you can deploy the entire database and code repository.
Don’t Mix Software Development Practices With Software Production
Software production is an offshoot of software development. However, these two have completely different goals and practices. Trying to solve a problem from one of these realms with the methods from another could end up complicating processes. It is important to understand the distinction and to use appropriate methods for these two separate worlds.
Rely on Architecture Reviews to Help Improve Your Design
The key here is to recognize when your architecture becomes over engineered and to avoid it at the early stages. Is there another simpler solution delivering all of the required functionality? If yes, then your team may want to consider falling back on that one instead. If not, then what you are working with is the best you have until someone finds something better.
The architect is the individual or group that creates a vision or concept for the software being produced. One of the most popular mistakes architects make is designing without a business aim in mind. Often, you can see architecture designed in whole or in part without the goal of the business or customer purpose in mind. They lose focus of meaning behind the project and get lost in the details and complexities of design.
A good architect should make sure they can clearly and honestly answer for themselves why the program is needed. Some reasons include: formal requirements, an absolute need for product improvement, or the development of new technologies that render the previous design less effective.
Understand How the IT Process and Mentality Works
There are no right and wrong solutions because there are many ways to solve software problems. However, there are good and bad understandings of the solution.
The IT industry is a mix of science, technology, art, and business. It can be difficult to navigate without a deep enough understanding of these aspects. The biggest problem is that the industry itself is quite complex; therefore, best practices are complex too. People in IT do not just learn the processes and knowledge that falls under that umbrella. Instead, they take on a range of topics for a diverse portfolio of knowledge.
Be aware of this as you go through the software production process and do not underestimate it. This industry places an emphasis on learning verifying your knowledge by practicing in order to succeed.
Stay Updated on the Programming Industry
As an extra step: stay up-to-date on tech industry news and developments that could affect the way you go through the software production process. The industry is ever-changing and it is important to stay on top of the latest technologies.
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