Exploring Search-Based Applications in the Software Development Life Cycle: A Literature Review

Search-Based Software Engineering (SBSE) research is having a tangible impact on the wider Software Engineering (SE) community.SBSE tackles SE problems by reformulating them into search problems and then uses heuristic techniques to discover optimal or sub-optimal solutions.Despite the success of SBSE, it faces several challenges, such as the need for rigorous evaluation of its robustness and scalability, as well as bridging the gap between academic research and practical industrial application.Also, it must address the dynamic nature of software systems by incorporating user needs and preferences into its approaches.Additionally, automating tasks such as algorithm selection and evaluation is critical for improving efficiency and practicality.This study presents a literature review of SBSE research across different Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) phases by reviewing recent publications from 2019 to 2024.It analyzes studies based on SDLC stages and associated problems, with a focus on the SBSE algorithms employed.Also, it highlights current trends in SBSE research, and identifies gaps for future research directions.