Waterfall Lifecycle
The Waterfall model was the first to be specified and is based on normal engineering practice. The stages in a basic Waterfall model are shown in the following diagram:
The stages in the production of the software are sequential, but following use (Operation and Maintenance) the software may need to be updated. Progress from one stage to the next is by review of deliverables.
This model is popular with management and customers but developers often have the following reservations:
- poor compatibility with incremental and evolutionary development styles;
- heavy dependence on formal reviews and audits;
- poor compatibility with object based and object-oriented methods;
- overemphasized distinction between requirements and design;
- too much emphasis on preparing documents;
- not particularly in conformance with CASE Tools.
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