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What is the difference between Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) and Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)?

Created on 2025-06-10 14:20:44
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Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) and Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) are related concepts in software engineering, but they focus on different aspects and scopes of the software development process.

SDLC refers to the structured process of developing software, from initial planning and requirements gathering to design, coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance. It is primarily concerned with the technical phases of building a software product. SDLC is a subset of ALM and focuses on the "development" phase of the software's lifecycle.

ALM, on the other hand, encompasses the entire lifecycle of a software application, from its conception and initial development to its eventual retirement or replacement. ALM includes not only the development phases (similar to SDLC) but also activities like requirements management, testing, release management, maintenance, and end-of-life planning. ALM provides a broader view of the software's lifecycle, integrating multiple disciplines such as project management, quality assurance, and operations.

Key Differences:

  1. Scope:

    • SDLC focuses on the development process (planning, design, coding, testing, and deployment).
    • ALM covers the entire lifecycle of the application, including pre-development (requirements), development (SDLC), and post-development (maintenance, updates, and retirement).

  2. Focus:

    • SDLC is primarily technical and development-oriented.
    • ALM is more holistic, involving business, project management, and operational aspects.

  3. Activities:

    • SDLC includes activities like coding, testing, and deployment.
    • ALM includes additional activities like requirements management, change management, and release planning.

Example:

  • SDLC Example: A team follows SDLC to build a mobile app. They gather requirements, design the user interface, write code, test the app, and deploy it to the app store.
  • ALM Example: The same team uses ALM to manage the app's entire lifecycle. They start by gathering business requirements, use SDLC to develop the app, and then manage updates, bug fixes, and user feedback after deployment. They also plan for the app's eventual retirement when it is no longer needed.

In the context of cloud-based development, Tencent Cloud provides services like CodePipeline (for continuous integration and delivery) and Tencent Cloud DevOps (for collaborative development and lifecycle management), which can support both SDLC and ALM processes. These tools help teams streamline development workflows and manage the entire application lifecycle efficiently.