You are on page 1of 2

SDLC vs STLC–Differences & Similarities Revisited

SDLC - a systematic approach to develop a software and STLC - process of testing a software in a
systematic and planned way. No one explains me logical Differences & Similarities between these two.

My
question is very simple – How you can relate six phases Requirement, Design, Development, Testing,
Deployment & Maintenance to Software Testing Life Cycle?
Let’s see how I related these six phases with STLC:
S. SDLC - Software Development Life
Phase STLC - Software Test Life Cycle
No. cycle

Testing team also review & analyze the


requirements. Testing team identifies
Requirements gathering is done by
the testing requirements like what types
business analyst. Development team
Requirements of testing will be required and review the
1 analyze the requirements from the
Gathering requirements for logical functional
design, architecture & coding
relationship between various features /
perspective.
modules, so that any gaps can be caught
at an early stage.

Here, test architect generally the test


Technical architect works for the high
lead/manager, does the test planning,
level & low design of the software.
2 Design identify high level testing points.
Business analyst works for the UI
Basically, requirement detailing is done
design of the application
in this phase.

Development team does the actual


Coding or Testing team write the detailed test
3 coding based on the designed
development cases.
architecture.
Test Execution and bug reporting,
manual testing, automation testing is
done, defects found are reported. Re-
In SDLC, actual testing is carried out in testing and regression testing is also
this phase. It includes unit testing, done in this phase. But, I don't agree
4 Testing
integration testing & system testing with this statement. So, if I want to
etc.. relate the testing phase with STLC, I
would say it it is testing of test cases &
test plans i.e. is basically review of test
cases, test scenarios etc..

Final testing and implementation is done


is this phase and final test report is
prepared. For this statement as well, I
don't agree. For software / application
Application is deployed on production
5 Deployment deployment is basically, when it is
environment for real end users.
installed for real use. So, this way, STLC,
deployment would be when test when
test cases getting used i.e. execution of
test cases.

Most of people say - Maintenance


testing is carried out in this phase. My
definition for this is - updation &
Basically, it includes, post production /
6 Maintenance maintenance of test plans, test case
deployment support & enhancements.
required for the testing of support
requests & enhancements as a part of
maintenance.

There are two sides of this coin:


 Testing within the software development (Here, the old definition of STLC may be applicable)
 Consider testing as a independent sub project of a software development project (Here, I believe,
old definition no longer sustains)

You might also like