Software development is the comprehensive process of designing, building, testing, deploying, and maintaining software applications, encompassing everything from initial idea and user needs analysis to coding, quality assurance, and ongoing support, all guided by a structured lifecycle to create functional digital products like apps, websites, and systems. It’s a multidisciplinary field requiring skills in programming, design, problem-solving, and project management, using various tools to automate tasks and deliver solutions that drive efficiency across industries.

• Core Activities
• Analysis & Planning: Understanding user needs and defining project scope.
• Design: Creating blueprints, architecture, and models for the software.
• Development/Coding: Writing instructions (code) in programming languages.
• Testing: Finding and fixing bugs (Quality Assurance).
• Deployment: Releasing the software to users.
• Maintenance: Updating and improving the software over time.
• Key Concepts
• Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC): A structured process guiding development from concept to maintenance.
• Software Engineering: A broader field applying engineering principles to software creation, including management.
• Agile/Scrum: Methodologies for flexible, iterative development.
• Tools & Roles
• Tools: IDEs (Integrated Development Environments), version control (like Git), compilers.
• Roles: Developers, testers, designers, project managers.
• Why It Matters
• Drives digital transformation across industries.
• Automates tasks and improves productivity.
• Creates essential tools like operating systems, apps, and websites.