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Optimized SDLC Timeline

market for new products, methodologies have been created to
optimize SDLC by allowing certain parts of it to function in
parallel. These methodologies are processes designed to maximize
the efficiency of the SDLC. Some of these methodologies include
Scrum, Agile, Extreme Programming (XP) and the Rational
Unified Process (RUP). The underlying goal of each these
methodologies are to optimize the software development timeline
while ensuring the quality of the resulting product.

By staggering the starting time of the subsequent phases, it is

often possible to achieve a level of parallel development. As
shown in Figure 1.4, this has a net effect of saving the project time
by having multiple things done simultaneously. Note that the
difference in the methodology being used will impact how the
phases are staggered.

Figure 1.4: Optimized SDLC Timeline showing concurrent phases.

ASK THE EXPERTS

Q: Should the functional tester understand the programming language the
application was created in?
A: This is not necessary, during functional testing we are only exposed to the
completed application and not to the source code. Functional testing ignores
the internal mechanisms of an application and focuses on the output
provided for a given input.