The IT software life cycle consists of several phases: planning, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
Challenges in the planning phase include timeline setting, resource estimation, risk management, and feasibility study.
Best practices in the design phase involve defining system architecture, user interface design, database schema, and selecting a tech stack.
Challenges in the development phase include iterative coding, particularly in Agile settings, and refining the product through feedback loops.
Testing phase includes various types of testing like unit, integration, system, user acceptance, and performance testing. Continuous testing is crucial.
Deployment phase involves setting up infrastructure, migrating data, and deploying through strategies like blue-green deployment and rolling updates.
Maintenance phase requires fixing bugs, improving performance, adapting to user needs, and keeping software secure and compatible with advancements.