Software maintenance is an essential part of the software development lifecycle for all companies and organizations. It goes beyond troubleshooting problems or errors, and is a natural part of the SDLC. To remain competitive and relevant, developers must constantly be vigilant in correcting and improving their software. There are several types of maintenance that can be used to ensure the success of software.
Preventive maintenance is done in the form of regular inspections, which can help eliminate unplanned downtime by detecting problems before they occur. Condition-based maintenance is a more advanced alternative, where machines and systems are observed for changes that may indicate imminent failure. Predictive maintenance is a specific type of condition-based maintenance that uses sensor devices to provide real-time data to the software, which then interprets this data and warns service technicians of any hazards. Corrective maintenance is done when a problem is discovered while working on another work order.
Default maintenance follows the manufacturer's recommendations for maintenance, including when to perform inspections and maintenance. Unplanned maintenance is not properly prepared and is planned as the work is done. Risk-based maintenance (RBM) uses a risk assessment methodology to allocate scarce maintenance resources to those assets that carry the greatest risk in the event of failure. It is important to consider software maintenance costs when creating new software and undertaking maintenance projects for older models. Software developers must be aware of the different types of maintenance available in order to ensure the success of their software. Preventive, condition-based, predictive, corrective, default, unplanned, and risk-based maintenance are all important aspects of the software development lifecycle.
