What are the main stages that software goes through before becoming available to end users?

The main stages of the software lifecycle before it becomes available to end users include:

1. Development — writing and initial testing of the code.
2. Build — compiling and packaging the application into an executable or deployable format.
3. Testing — verifying functionality, fixing bugs, including unit tests, integration, and system tests.
4. Release — preparing and releasing the version for end users.
5. Deployment — installing and configuring the software in the production environment.
6. Support and updates — fixing bugs and adding new features after release.

These stages are often automated and integrated into CI/CD processes to speed up and improve the quality of releases.