AI-DLC Framework 2026: The AI-Driven Development Lifecycle Explained
If you’re still running a traditional SDLC in 2026, you’re leaving a lot on the table. I’ve been running AI-augmented development workflows for the past year, and the shift from “write every line yourself” to “steer agents that write the lines” is the biggest change in how software gets built since version control went mainstream. The AI-Driven Development Lifecycle (AI-DLC) is the framework that formalizes this shift. It was invented and open-sourced by AWS in 2025, and by mid-2026 it’s become the de facto reference model for teams adopting AI coding agents at scale. This article breaks down what AI-DLC actually is, how the different implementations compare, and what it means for your day-to-day as a developer. ...