1. Understand the Problem
Before writing any code, a software engineer first asks: "What problem are we solving?"
A good application is not built just because technology is available. It is built because users need a solution. The engineer deeply studies the user’s pain points, needs, and ultimate goals.
This initial phase serves as the critical foundation of the entire software project.
💡 Practical Example
Suppose people are finding it difficult to keep track of where their money goes every month. In this case, the clear problem statement is: Users need a simple, intuitive expense tracker application.
“First understand the problem, then write the solution.”