Which stage comes directly after the design phase in the software development cycle?

The stage that follows the design phase in the software development cycle is implementation. During this phase, the design specifications created in the previous stage are translated into actual code. Developers write the software using programming languages based on the design documents that outline how the system should function.

Implementation is a critical step where the theoretical plans become a working product. It's during this phase that developers build the software components, integrate systems, and carry out configurations. Following implementation, the software will typically enter the testing phase, but the immediate next step after design is indeed implementation.

Understanding implementation is crucial as it lays the groundwork for all further activity in the software development cycle, including the subsequent testing and maintenance phases.