SDLC Interview Questions and Answers

SDLC Interview Questions for Intermediate

11. What is the difference between SDLC and STLC?

12. What is the difference between Verification and Validation?

13. What are Functional vs Non-Functional Requirements?

14. Differentiate between quality assurance and quality control?

15. What are the different environments related to development while following SDLC?

When working with SDLC, software goes through different environments to ensure everything works smoothly before reaching real users. These environments help developers, testers, and users test and verify the application safely. Let’s discuss them one by one in brief:

• • • Development (Dev): This is where developers write and modify code. It’s a safe workspace where changes can be made without affecting the live system.
    • System Integration Testing / Quality Assurance (SIT/QA): In this environment, the software is tested against data, hardware, and software that closely resemble the production system. Testers check if everything works correctly, and any issues are reported for fixing.
    • User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Also called the staging environment, this is where end users test the application before it goes live. It ensures the software meets business requirements and behaves as expected.
    • Production (PROD): This is the live environment where the software is used by real customers. All previous testing ensures the product is stable and reliable here.

16. List Top SDLC tools.

Here are some of the top SDLC tools used in software development:

• • • Jira: A tool used to track tasks, bugs, and manage project workflows. It helps teams plan, monitor progress, and ensure that work is completed on time.
    • Git: An open-source version control system that tracks code changes. It allows developers to collaborate, review code, and manage different versions of a project efficiently.
    • Confluence: A tool for creating, storing, and sharing project documents, design plans, and research notes. It keeps all team members on the same page.
    • Asana: Helps teams organize work and track tasks across different projects. It allows setting deadlines, assigning tasks, and monitoring progress to ensure smooth project execution.

17. What do a Software Project Manager’s responsibilities entail?

A Software Project Manager manages the software project from start to finish. They make sure the entire team follows a clear process, plan the project, track the progress of the project, manage resources, and risks.

18. What are Capability Maturity Model(CMM) levels?

The following are the five Capability Maturity Model Levels:

• • • Initial: Processes are unpredictable and chaotic; success depends on individual effort.
    • Repeatable: Basic project management practices are in place; work can be repeated and tracked.
    • Defined: Processes are documented and standardized for consistent performance.
    • Managed: Data on processes and products is collected and monitored.
    • Optimized: Processes are continuously improved for better efficiency and quality.

SDLC Interview Questions for Experienced

These advanced SDLC interview questions for experienced professionals cover system architecture, SDLC process optimization, Agile practices, CI/CD, risk management, and large-scale project delivery. This section is ideal for senior software developers, QA leads, and tech analysts who need to showcase deep knowledge of the Software Development Life Cycle in interviews.

19. Which SDLC model is best and why?

Agile is one of the most popular SDLC approaches, widely adopted due to its flexibility. Unlike other models, Agile allows changes during each sprint, making it suitable for projects where customer requirements change or need frequent feedback. This approach helps teams deliver better software faster while keeping the process flexible.

20. What are the SDLC Models?

21. What is the difference between Waterfall and Agile methodologies?

22. How do you handle performance requirements in SDLC?

Performance is part of the software design and testing process.

• • • Load testing checks how the system handles normal user activity,
    • Stress testing looks at extreme conditions, and
    • Scalability analysis ensures the system can handle growth.
    • After deployment, monitoring tools track response times and overall performance.

23. How does SDLC support compliance in regulated industries?

In industries like healthcare or aviation, following rules and regulations is crucial.

• • • SDLC helps by including compliance checks right from the requirements stage.
    • It also keeps clear documentation for audits and makes sure testing covers standards like HIPAA, GDPR, or PCI-DSS.
    • Even after deployment, the system is monitored to make sure it stays compliant over time.

Important Questions on Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

This section highlights the most important SDLC interview questions, covering key SDLC concepts such as phases, models, documentation, verification vs validation, and real-world examples. These frequently asked questions help you quickly revise the Software Development Life Cycle for software engineering and QA interviews

24. Explain prototyping in SDLC process.

Prototyping is creating a simple version of a software application to show how it will work. It may not have the full logic or features of the final product, but it helps developers and customers see the concept in action. The prototype is built, tested, and updated until it meets expectations. This approach is useful when requirements are not fully clear, as it gives an early understanding of what the customer wants and serves as a base for the final system.

25. Briefly describe the RAD model.

The Rapid Application Development (RAD) model is all about building software fast using prototypes instead of detailed designs upfront. It works well when the project can be broken into smaller modules and completed in a couple of months. RAD is useful when you have enough designers for prototyping and the budget covers both their work and tools for automated code generation.

26. How do you apply SDLC in microservices-based architecture?

In microservices, the system is divided into independent services, so the SDLC process adapts accordingly:

• • • Each microservice follows its own SDLC pipeline.
    • APIs and service contracts are clearly defined for proper interaction.
    • Continuous deployment pipelines manage frequent updates efficiently.
    • Services are tested individually first, followed by integration testing across all services.

27. How is security embedded in the SDLC process?

Security is most effective when it is integrated into every stage of the Software Development Life Cycle. This practice is known as the Security Development Life Cycle (SecSDLC).

• • • During the design stage, teams carry out threat modeling to spot potential risks early.
    • In development, secure coding standards, code reviews, and static analysis tools are used to catch vulnerabilities.
    • Before deployment, applications go through penetration tests and vulnerability assessments to strengthen defenses.
    • After release, continuous monitoring, timely patches, and updates help maintain system security.

28. How do Agile and SDLC align in large-scale enterprise projects?

Agile works with the SDLC by following iterative cycles, but applying it across multiple teams in large enterprises can be complex. To address this, frameworks such as SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) and LeSS (Large-Scale Scrum) are commonly used.

Requirements are divided into epics, features, and user stories for better management. Integration points are coordinated across teams to prevent conflicts, while regular reviews ensure that development stays aligned with overall business objectives.

29. What are the common challenges in SDLC? 

Software projects often face hurdles during the Software Development Life Cycle. Some of the most common challenges include:

• • • Changing requirements (scope creep) which disrupt project flow.
    • Poor communication between teams leading to misalignment.
    • Insufficient testing that results in defects after release.
    • Budget or schedule overruns caused by unrealistic planning.
    • Lack of documentation making future maintenance difficult.

30. How do you choose the right SDLC model for a project?

Selecting an SDLC model depends on several factors that shape the success of a project:

• • • Project size and complexity: Smaller projects may fit Waterfall, while large or complex ones are better suited for Agile or Spiral.
    • Customer involvement: Agile works best when clients are highly engaged throughout the process.
    • Flexibility of requirements: Rapid Application Development (RAD) is effective when requirements are evolving.
    • Time-to-market: Agile or Incremental models are preferred when faster delivery is a priority.

31. How does DevOps fit into SDLC?

DevOps enhances the traditional Software Development Life Cycle by introducing automation, continuous integration (CI), and continuous delivery (CD). It bridges the gap between development and operations teams, enabling faster deployments, improved collaboration, and more reliable software releases.

32. How do you measure success in SDLC?

Success in the Software Development Life Cycle is evaluated using clear metrics such as:

• • • On-time delivery to meet planned schedules.
    • Staying within budget without overspending resources.
    • Meeting requirements to ensure customer satisfaction.
    • Low defect density indicates higher software quality.
    • High system performance and stability for a reliable user experience.

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