A professional software project moves through predictable phases. Understanding them helps you budget time, approvals and internal resources.

1. Discovery & requirements

Workshops, process mapping, and written scope. Outputs: user stories, acceptance criteria, and an indicative estimate.

2. Architecture & design

Data model, integrations, security approach, and UI direction. Outputs: technical design and milestone plan.

3. Build & iteration

Development in sprints or phases with demo checkpoints. Staging environment for your team to test.

4. QA, UAT & security review

Functional testing, user acceptance, performance checks, and hardening appropriate to your risk.

5. Deployment & training

Production cutover, DNS/SSL, backups, admin training and runbooks.

6. Support & evolution

Support plans and change requests after go-live. Software is never “finished”—plan for maintenance.

Truevision quotations and PDF estimates reflect this lifecycle. Use the project estimator for a range, then a formal quote for binding scope.