Database development life cycle

 

Database development life cycle is a part of the software development life cycle. Here in database development life cycle there are number of stages that we can identify. We can present those stages as follows,

 

Initial database study:

 

This phase that we identify the requirements that are related to the implementation of database. So here in this phase we determine what is required, what kind of a database is needed for the organization, what is the volume of the data must be handled, how much data is to be stored in the master files etc.

 

Database design:

 

In this phase database designers make decision on the database model that is perfectly suited for the organizations requirements. To meet this database designers study the documents prepared by the analysts in the requirements analysis stage and then start developing a system that fulfills the needs.

 

When we go for the further detail study of the Database design we can identify that it starts with a conceptual data model and produces a specification of a logical schema. However the relational representation is still independent of any specific Database management system (DBMS). So it is another conceptual data model

Implementation and data model:

This is the phase that the database system is implemented. This involves a series of steps leading to operational information system that includes creating database definitions, developing applications, testing the system, developing operational procedures and documentation, training the users and populating the database

Testing and evaluation:

 

Here in this phase the
aim of testing is to uncover errors in the design and implementation of the database, its structure, constraints and associated user and management support.

 

This considered involving validation and verification. Without adequate testing users will have little confidence in their data processing.

Operation:

In this phase database is accessed by the users and application programs, new data is added as well as the existing data is modified and some obsolete data is deleted also database delivers its usefulness as a critical tool in management decision making and help in the smooth and efficient functioning of the organization.

Maintenance and monitoring:

We can identify this phase as one of the ongoing phases in database development life cycle. Database backup and recovery, performance tuning, design modifications, access management and audits, usage monitoring, hardware maintenance and upgradation can identify as major tasks that are carryout during this process.