1. Plan
Agree the goals, scope, budget and timeline.
2. Design
Decide the architecture, data model and user experience.
3. Build
Write the code in small, reviewed changes.
4. Test
Check it works, is secure and performs well.
5. Deploy
Release it safely to production.
6. Maintain
Monitor, fix bugs and improve it. Then the cycle repeats.
Key idea
A bug caught early costs far less to fix than one found in production.
Where DevOps fits
DevOps automates the middle of the cycle with CI/CD: every change is built, tested and deployed the same way, then monitored in production. See the CI/CD pipeline.
Why it matters for your career
Every tech role sits somewhere in the SDLC. Knowing the whole cycle helps you work well with the people before and after you.
