Program lifecycle phase

This article is about phases related to computer program execution. For development life cycle, see software development life cycle. For development process, see software development process.

A program lifecycle phase is a distinct period of time that is relevant to the operation of a computer program as it transitions from development to execution. Any distinct period in a program's life cycle in which the operational state of the program changes can be identified as a time. For example, compile time is when a program is compiled and link time is when a program is linked. Also, phases can often be divided into component phases. For example, build time might be divided into compile and link times, compile time into parse and code-generation times, and run time into initialization and normal-operation times.

A program tends to transition through phases in sequences, but often not from first to last and sometimes some are skipped. For example, when programming, a developer may repeatedly edit, build, and run a program without distributing or installing it. After programming is complete, then it may be distributed to and installed by a user.

Even though the term program lifecycle phase is less than notable, the times (phases) are well-known, commonly-used and notable. The collective term is used for this article for lack of a better term.

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