This article is about technical writing and discusses how to adapt the writing process to suit the different stages of the software development life cycle (SDLC) needs and requirements.

Although there are many steps in SDLC, this article lists only the important stages of SDLC. Is it so

1. Gathering requirements
2. Analysis and Design
3. Coding
4. Code review and testing phase
5. Release (Alpha and Beta versions)
6. Maintenance

Each software project has its own custom SDLC framework.

All proprietary framework versions depend on the basic structure of the previous SDLC framework.

Just as every software project depends on the SDLC, in the same way every documentation project also depends on the Document Development Life Cycle (DDLC). The DDLC framework is divided into the following steps.

1. Understand the product/project requirements
2. Do audience analysis
3. Decide on output formats (.PDF, online help) and documentation deliverables
4. Zero documentation and graphical tools
5. Compilation of base or source documents
6. Template Design
7. Time frame and estimation
8. Identification of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and Points of Contact
9. Identification of peer, technical and editorial reviewers
10. Creating the Documentation Plan
11. Draft Table of Contents (TOC)
12. Do content development
13. Review cycle management
14. Incorporation of review comments
15. End Exit

All the above steps of the DDLC framework can be summarized into five subcategories, which in turn can be assigned to each SDLC step. The five summarized subcategories are

1. Preparation of the Documentation Plan
2. Content writing
3. Content Review
4. Delivery of documents
5.Document maintenance

Since each Documentation project in the field of software depends on the corresponding project/product, the SDLC framework of it must be mapped with the DDLC of the corresponding Documentation project.

SDLC mapping vs. DDLC

1. Analysis and Design Preparation of the Documentation Plan
2. Coding Content writing
3. Code review and testing phase Review content
4. Release (alpha and beta versions) Publication of the document
5. Maintenance of maintenance documents (incorporation of improvements and modifications of functionality)

As you can see from the mapping above, each process in SDLC is mapped with the corresponding process in DDLC. Most companies, particularly product companies, want the documentation ready by the time the product is released.

For companies that follow the Agile methodology, when the product is in the development stage, there will be frequent improvements, fixes, etc., during each iteration. Just as changes are incorporated in the code, in the same way changes must be made in the corresponding documentation to keep the deliverables updated according to the requirements of the client/market.