The development of software has come a long way from its traditional model. Fragmented processes, delivery delays, unexpected scope changes, and cost overruns have all been the struggles of conventional software development. To combat these issues, Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) has emerged as a powerful tool for integrating multiple disciplines, practices, and teams under one umbrella. By bringing together different areas of the software development process, ALM provides a much more efficient and comprehensive approach to creating, delivering, and managing complex software.
The Need For ALM Tools
ALM makes it easier for all the other development parts to talk to the development team. Also, implementing different methods like Agile, Waterfall, or RAD is easy with the help of ALM. You can simultaneously handle requirements, changes, and flexibility with ALM tools and processes.
What is Application Lifecycle Management?
Application Lifecycle Management, or ALM, is a group of people, tools, and a process that manages the life cycle of an application from the time it is first thought of to when it is no longer used. AML starts with the requirements for building an application and moves on to the maintenance stages.
There are three main parts to ALM:
Administration – At this stage, you need to determine the requirements and design the system. In other words, you make the app you want by planning and making it.
There are two types of requirements: the general ones, like business requirements, mobile app goals, and user journeys, and the specific ones. And the exact needs, like the product and technical specifications.
The administration team has to do the following while using the ALM tools:
- Identifying the most important parties
- Choose who will own the project.
- How to find the top-level departments
- Putting their ideas in order
- Putting together a BRS that shows the business needs
- They need to set up conditions and customer inquiries to help the development team.
- Finding the best way to build something and running the project
- Selling the good points and Putting an end to the programme when needed
Development – This part is about the SDLC, or software development life cycle. This is where you make your application and bring it to life. The development stage can differ depending on your method and how the app is managed, but the SDLC cycle stays the same.
The development team is in charge of the following:
- First, they need to design an app based on what the market and users want. Then, the team is in charge of finding the software architecture.
- How to code an application
- Taking care of the needed changes
- Keeping track of version
- Keeping settings up-to-date
- QA and testing
- Taking care of different builds
- Supporting the final application and running the official release
Operations – After the app is released, the operation stage starts. At this stage, the maintenance team needs to look into any possible bugs and devise a plan for how to fix them. The maintenance team also manages updates and keeps an eye on how the app is doing. During the whole application lifecycle, this step must be taken.
The team in charge of running and maintaining the application needs to do the following:
- Customer support
- Keeping track of the problems that could happen
- Keeping an eye on how well the application works
- Keeping an eye on the application’s security
- Maintenance of the application
ALM Tools and Their Importance
ALM tools are project management tools that help you connect people and processes. For example, you can look for a tool with version control, real-time team communication, requirements management, estimation and project planning, source code management, and test management.
Some of the essential ALM tools provided by MicroGenesis are as follows:
- SpiraTeam
- CA Agile Central
- Atlassian Jira
- Stash
- Bamboo
Major ALM Benefits
- Helps Teams see Each other Better
The ALM tools and methods used in ALM give all teams the same view of a project. Everyone knows what work has already been done and what needs to be done next. Different teams can work together to determine the order of the next steps in developing an app.
- Speed up and Improves Development
When a software development team uses ALM principles and tools, developers and testers work well together to improve the quality of the software. They can use automation to test the source code often and find problems with it as soon as possible. As a result, teams can make software changes faster and more confidently when they test the whole code after each change.
- Gives the Software Project Clear Direction
The tools and processes of ALM help the development and testing teams plan and carry out their project strategies. As a result, they can make more accurate estimates of what the project needs and better plans for the future of the application.
MicroGenesis – Your Stop For the Efficient ALM Process & Tools
As a well-known ALM solutions provider- MicroGenesis can help with everything. We start by getting to know how your business works, and then we offer you ALM tools with extra benefits that fit with how your software release works.
MicroGenesis puts the needs of its clients first and offers a complete set of services and support that will help your business and help you in the long run. We take care of the technical details with the utmost professionalism and excellence, from custom software solutions to configuration management.
Get in touch with us for more information on ALM tools & services.
