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Building software today isn’t just about writing code. Teams juggle planning, development, testing, and updates—all while staying in sync. That’s where application lifecycle management helps. It brings structure to the process and keeps everyone aligned from start to finish.
In this blog, we’ll walk through how ALM supports every stage of software development. You’ll gain a clear understanding of how it enables teams to stay consistent, deliver better software, and manage all the moving parts. Additionally, we will examine the tools that facilitate collaboration across various teams and timelines.
Whether you're leading a project or part of a dev team, this blog will help you find the right setup for your work.
Let’s break it down.
Application lifecycle management (ALM) is a strategic framework that integrates people, processes, and tools to manage the entire lifecycle of a software application. It ensures consistent delivery, supports collaboration across development and operations teams, and provides visibility into the software development process.
ALM typically consists of three main pillars:
| ALM Pillar | Description |
|---|---|
| Requirements Management | Captures, analyzes, and tracks changing project requirements across the application lifecycle. |
| Development and Testing | Manages the software development, coding, and test management phases. |
| Operations and Maintenance | Oversees deployment, release management, and ongoing continuous maintenance. |
ALM directly supports the software development lifecycle by offering a centralized platform where project managers, developers, testers, and stakeholders can collaborate, document, and monitor progress. Unlike isolated processes, ALM connects every development phase, enabling synchronized tracking of tasks, code, tests, and releases.
The application lifecycle includes everything from idea generation to application retirement. The software development lifecycle (SDLC) , by contrast, focuses specifically on coding, testing, and deploying software.
| Term | Focus | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Application Lifecycle | End-to-end view | Planning, coding, testing, deployment, maintenance, and retirement |
| Software Development Lifecycle | Technical implementation | Requirements, design, development, testing, deployment |
Application lifecycle management brings these together using standardized workflows and collaborative application lifecycle management (ALM) tools.
ALM supports various development methodologies, including agile development and DevOps. Whether you're using agile workflows or a more traditional model, ALM offers flexibility across stages.
ALM tools are specialized platforms used to manage the entire application lifecycle. They combine features for development teams, testers, and project managers into a single interface.
| Function | ALM Tool Support |
|---|---|
| Requirement capture | Track stakeholder needs |
| Code collaboration | Manage source code, track changes |
| Testing | Automate and monitor tests |
| Deployment | Control releases, rollback issues |
| Maintenance | Monitor bugs, apply patches, update versions |
Some of the best ALM software offers native integration with project management tools, version control systems, and CI/CD pipelines.
Choosing the right ALM software depends on factors such as team size, project type, and preferred development methodologies. Here are some leading tools used by software development teams today:
| ALM Software | Strengths |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Azure DevOps | Strong CI/CD and project management capabilities |
| Jira + Confluence + Bitbucket | Well-suited for agile development teams |
| IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management | Best for regulated industries needing traceability |
| CodeBeamer ALM | Strong in requirements management and quality assurance |
| Polarion ALM | Great for software projects with complex compliance needs |
Modern software development depends heavily on agile and DevOps practices. ALM adapts to these by offering automation, traceability, and team collaboration. It helps agile teams manage detailed tasks, backlog items, and sprints, while ensuring alignment with business goals.
Manufacturing and engineering teams utilize product lifecycle management (PLM) to manage the physical design of products. When integrated with ALM, both software and hardware teams can collaborate on unified timelines and deliverables.
| HTML Table Width | HTML Table Width |
|---|---|
| HTML Table Width | Integrates with alm platform for hybrid products |
| HTML Table Width | Combines with best ALM software to handle firmware development |
| HTML Table Width | Syncs mechanical and software changes in one interface |
This integration improves quality management, regulatory requirements tracking, and configuration management across the entire lifecycle.
When selecting an ALM solution, consider:
The best ALM software should be tailored to your team's size, complexity, and existing toolchain.
Application lifecycle management brings structure to software development projects, connecting requirements, code, testing, and delivery into a single, transparent workflow. It aligns development and operations teams, supports continuous maintenance, and improves collaboration across the entire application lifecycle. By selecting the right ALM system and aligning it with your development methodologies, you can enhance software quality, mitigate risks, and streamline the software delivery process in a scalable and repeatable manner.
Want to build smarter, faster, and safer? Invest in the right ALM platform and build your software development process on a foundation designed for modern needs.
