What are Software Development Standards and Best Practices?

Great software doesn’t just happen—it’s built on a foundation of standards and best practices. Software development standards are the guidelines and principles for developers to follow and build reliable, secure, and scalable software applications. These standards are set and maintained by international organizations and agreed upon by top experts worldwide. 

Most formal software development standards are mainly set by 3 organizations: ISO – International Organization for Standardization; IEC – International Electrotechnical Commission; and IEEE – Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Together, these organizations design, establish, and manage many standards that affect software system development, distribution, and maintenance across the software development lifecycle.

In this guide, we’ll explore key standards and best practices that provide developers with a common, proven approach to building the best software.

Common Software Development Standards

ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 and ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207

ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2023 and ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2017 are standards for managing the systems and software engineering lifecycle. Both have the same process purpose and outcomes, they differ in activities and tasks for software or systems engineering.

• ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 – System Life Cycle Processes: Provides a broad framework for the life cycle of human-made systems in general, which may include minimal or no software.
• ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207 – Software Life Cycle Processes: Narrows the focus to software life cycle processes within an organization or project, including planning, maintenance, and retirement. 

Choosing between the two depends on the nature of the system. However, complex systems rarely operate without software, and most software need hardware to function. Thus, these standards are often used together to manage all parts of a system.

ISO/IEC/IEEE 15939: Systems and Software Measurement Process

ISO/IEC/IEEE 15939 provides guidelines for setting up and maintaining a measurement process in software and systems engineering. This standard complements ISO/IEC 15288 and ISO/IEC 12207 by a structured approach to assess performance and effectiveness.

Key Points:

• Sets standards for measuring all software functions and activities.
• Helps developers choose tasks to measure, how to measure them, and how to analyze the results.
• The standard is flexible and can be customized to meet different organizational and project needs.

Benefits for organizations:

• Use data to make informed decisions.
• Identify areas for improvement and optimize processes.
• Assess whether software development practices are effective. 
• Comply with quality standards.

ISO/IEC 14143: Software Functional Size Measurement (FSM)

The ISO/IEC 14143 standard provides guidelines for measuring the functional size of software applications. It assesses how many functionalities an application delivers, no matter which technology is used to implement it.

Instead of counting the lines of code as a previously outdated method, this standard counts the number of functions and use cases the software supports. Thus, you can understand the functional size and complexity of use cases, and then prioritize which features have the most direct and significant effect on the user experience..

Key benefits:

• Improve the accuracy of software project estimates.
• Enhance the quality of software development processes.
• Optimize resource allocation and project planning.
• Facilitate effective communication between stakeholders.
• Functional user requirements are clearly identified and prioritized, helping software products better meet user needs.

ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119 - Software Testing

ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119 is a series of international standards for a comprehensive software testing framework. It covers 6 main aspects of software testing, including:

• ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-1: General Concepts: This part explains the foundational concepts and definitions for software testing, defining testing's goal, scope, and key terms.
• ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-2: Test Processes: This section goes over the steps to plan, run, and handle tests. It guides how to manage and control the testing process in the software development lifecycle.
• ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-3: Test Documentation: This section specifies the documentation templates for testing in all software development lifecycle models. It gives guidelines for creating and managing test plans, test cases, test scripts, and other related documentation.
• ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-4: Test Techniques: ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-4: Test Techniques: This part mentions the specific test design techniques and methods used in software testing, including both traditional and modern ones.
• ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-5: Keyword-Driven Testing: This section introduces and guides a technique for automating tests using a set of keywords that describe the actions and expected outcomes of tests.
• ISO/IEC TR 29119-6: Guidelines for the use of ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119 in agile projects: This offers guidance on how to apply the whole 29119 series in agile development settings.

ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119 is a standardized framework for software testing, covering all aspects of the software testing lifecycle. Its final goal is to help teams run tests effectively, improve performance, and deliver higher-quality software with the fewest bugs.

ISO/IEC 27001: Information Security Management Systems (ISMS)

ISO/IEC 27001 is a standard for establishing, implementing, operating, monitoring, reviewing, maintaining, and improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS). This standard helps protect sensitive company information via a risk-based approach.

Key Points:

• Detects and reduces information security risks.
• Encourages ongoing monitoring, audits, and updates to security practices.
• Security policies, processes, and controls must be clearly documented.
• Provides a set of controls, including access control, physical security, and incident management.
• Organizations can get certified after an independent review.

ISO/IEC 27001 helps businesses keep data safe, make sure they're following the rules, and gain the trust of their clients.

ISO/IEC 5055: Software Product Quality

ISO/IEC 5055 helps measure the quality of source code automatically, identifying faster architectural and coding violations. It assesses the internal structure of software applications via four critical criteria: reliability, performance, security, and maintainability.

• Reliability: Ensure all the software functions work as intended without failures.
• Performance: Measures how efficiently the software uses resources, such as CPU and memory.   
• Security: Identify vulnerabilities and weak spots that attackers can exploit.
• Maintainability: Consider how easy it is to modify and update the software.

ISO/IEC 5055 is particularly helpful when applied ahead of time. From the start, developers can set goals and metrics for software quality and then integrate them into the development process. In this way, quality is improved, and possible problems are fixed before they become big ones.

ISO/IEC 42001 - Artificial Intelligence Management Systems

ISO/IEC 42001 is a relatively new international standard published in 2023 that helps setup, implement, maintain, and continually improve an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Management System (AIMS). It guides organizations to develop and deploy AI systems responsibly and ethically.

Key Points:

• Responsible AI Development: Develop and use trustworthy, reliable, transparent, and unbiased AI systems.
• Risk Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate risks of AI systems. 
• Transparency and Explainability: Build and deploy transparent and explainable AI systems to better understand their decision-making.  
• Human Oversight: Highlights human monitoring throughout the AI development lifecycle.

Additionally, refer to other ISO standards in AI development for a broader overview, such as:

• ISO/IEC 22989 - Artificial Intelligence Concepts and Terminology.
• ISO/IEC 23053 - Framework for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Systems Using Machine Learning (ML).
• ISO/IEC 23894 - Guidance on AI-related Risk Management.

As AI is used more across areas, there needs to be a global standard to control risks and ensure that AI implementation is safe and reliable. Companies can use AI wisely and avoid problems with these rules.

Software Development Best Practices Checklist

Besides complying with software development standards, you can apply the following best practices - drawn from my over 10 years of experience in leading software teams to deliver high-quality software products

Simplify Source Code

Complex code is difficult to read, debug, and maintain, while clean, simple code is easier to read and reduces errors and wasted time. If you write simple code, future developers who weren't on the original team will quickly understand the logic.

Tips:

• Don't use unnecessary complex logic and abstractions.
• Follow coding principles like KISS and YAGNI.
• Use tools like SonarQube or CodeClimate to assess and simplify code.

Integrate Automation in Development

Integrating automation into your development process cuts down on human-made mistakes, ensures consistency, and speeds up delivery. Continuous integration (CI) automatically builds and tests code changes, while continuous deployment (CD) sends approved updates to production.

Tips:

• Use automated CI/CD tools like Jenkins, Travis CI, or GitHub Actions.
• Automatically run tests and quality checks at every integration step.
• Run blue-green or canary deployments to minimize downtime.
• Continuously monitor and log deployments for any failures or rollbacks.

Audit Code Continuously

This method helps you adhere to standard ISO/IEC 12207. Thus, your code consistency and quality will improve over time.

Tips:

• Use tools like GitHub Pull Requests or Crucible to regularly review code with other developers and find bugs you might have missed.
• Focus on how the code works, how well it follows standards, and how easy it is to read.
• Give helpful feedback and encourage other team members to share what they know.
• Use static analysis tools to complement manual reviews.

Automate Tests

Manual testing takes a lot of time and can lead to human mistakes. Automated testing, on the other hand, makes sure that all tests are covered completely and consistently.

Tips:

• Use automation frameworks like Selenium, Cypress, or PyTest 
• Write test cases for unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests.
• Run automated regression testing to catch errors from new code changes.
• Test cases should always be updated as the code changes.

Use Version Control

Version control systems record all code changes to help developers not overwrite each other’s work. This prevents conflicts and keeps the codebase stable when multiple people work on the same code. You can keep track of changes, revert to older versions, and find out when and where problems first appeared.

Tips:

• Use tools like Git, Mercurial, or SVN for version control.
• Commit code frequently with meaningful messages.
• Use branching models like GitFlow or trunk-based development.
• Use tagging to identify stable releases for production environments.

Deploy in Limited Batches

Smaller, incremental launches lower the chance of mistakes and make it easier to find and fix problems. Because only a small part of the code is deployed, any bugs are contained and easier to trace back to the source. 

Tips:

• Break development into smaller pieces that can be tested individually.
• Use feature toggles to deploy new functionality safely without affecting the whole system.
• Automate batch testing and deployment using CI/CD pipelines.
• Roll back specific code batches if issues are detected.

Use Feature Flags

Feature flags let you test new features separately from the main codebase. This means certain features are enabled or disabled without impacting the rest of the system. So, it's safe to test updates or roll them out to a small group of users before making them available to everyone.

Tips:

• Use feature management tools like LaunchDarkly or Flagsmith.
• Use A/B testing and feature flags together to assess whether new features are effective.
• Regularly turn off or remove outdated flags to avoid "flag debt."

Monitor Performance and Security

Closely monitored software can perform efficiently under various workloads and be protected from threats. Continuous performance monitoring finds bottlenecks, optimizes resources, and ensures user satisfaction. Security monitoring lets you prevent unauthorized access, data breaches, and system anomalies. 

Tips:

• Use performance monitoring tools like New Relic, Dynatrace, or Grafana.
• Follow security frameworks like OWASP Top 10 for secure coding practices.
• Run penetration tests and regularly update dependencies to reduce vulnerabilities.

Prioritize Documentation and Knowledge Sharing

Clear, up-to-date process, API, and architecture documentation makes software maintenance and scaling easier. It reduces the learning curve and gives new team members the information they need to contribute, ensuring continuity. 

Tips:

• Use tools like Swagger or Confluence.
• Maintain a centralized knowledge base for team collaboration.
• Keep documentation updated with code changes to avoid inconsistencies.
• Use README files and inline comments for quick references.

Promote Lifelong Learning

The software industry constantly develops new tools, frameworks, and best practices. So, encourage developers to learn new technologies to keep your software competitive and industry-adaptable. 

Tips:

• Encourage participation in workshops, conferences, and certifications.
• Create internal code camps or knowledge-sharing sessions.
• Review and adopt industry best practices and new technologies.

FAQs

Why are software development standards important?

Software development standards ensure consistency, quality, security, and efficiency. They help teams build reliable, maintainable, and scalable software while reducing risks and meeting regulatory requirements.

What are the consequences of not adhering to software development standards?

If you don't follow software development standards, you could end up with poor software, security risks, compliance problems, and higher long-term costs because of wasted time, rework, or legal penalties.

How can I ensure my development team is complying with software development standards?

Provide regular training, audits, automatic compliance tools, and clear guidelines. You may also assess compliance in CI/CD pipelines and project management.

How do software development standards apply to agile or DevOps methodologies?

Regular reviews, automated testing, and compliance checks help incorporate software development standards into agile or DevOps processes. These methods encourage flexibility and rapid iteration while incorporating standards.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're outsourcing or building software in-house, you must follow global, regional, and industry standards. However, qualified outsourcing teams can better assist in matching technological and business requirements with regulatory and licensing norms.

So, if you are looking for an outsourcing company that best understands and adheres to software development standards and best practices, consider Relia Software. We have a team of seasoned developers who can deliver the best software products for your business.