The software development process typically involves the following key stages:

1. Requirements Gathering and Analysis
Collecting and analyzing the needs of users and stakeholders.
Defining functional and non-functional requirements.
Prioritizing features and functionalities.
2. Planning
Creating a project plan with timelines, milestones, and resources.
Estimating costs and effort.
Identifying risks and mitigation strategies.
3. System Design
Designing the architecture and system components.
Creating data models, user interfaces, and system interfaces.
Developing detailed technical specifications.
4. Implementation (Coding)
Writing code based on the design specifications.
Following coding standards and best practices.
Version control and continuous integration.
5. Testing
Conducting unit, integration, system, and acceptance testing.
Identifying and fixing bugs and issues.
Ensuring the software meets the required quality standards.
6. Deployment
Preparing the production environment.
Releasing the software to users.
Configuring and setting up the software for use.
7. Maintenance and Support
Monitoring the software in production.
Performing regular updates, bug fixes, and optimizations.
Providing user support and addressing issues.
8. Review and Improvement
Gathering feedback from users and stakeholders.
Analyzing performance metrics.
Identifying areas for improvement and planning updates or new features.
9. Documentation
Writing user manuals, technical guides, and system documentation.
Keeping documentation up-to-date with changes in the software.
These stages can vary depending on the development methodology used (e.g., Waterfall, Agile, DevOps).