Software Evolution and Maintenance
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Questions and Answers

What is one of the primary goals of refactoring a program?

  • To add new features without changing existing functionality.
  • To enhance the program's structure and reduce complexity. (correct)
  • To translate the source code into a different programming language.
  • To migrate the entire system to a cloud-based architecture.
  • Which factor is NOT typically associated with the cost of reengineering?

  • Tool support available for reengineering.
  • The age of the software being reengineered.
  • The quality of the software to be reengineered.
  • The type of customers using the software. (correct)
  • What does data reengineering primarily involve?

  • Developing new features based on user feedback.
  • Cleaning up and restructuring system data. (correct)
  • Modifying user interfaces to enhance usability.
  • Adding security features to the existing system.
  • Which option best describes the role of expert staff in the reengineering process?

    <p>Their availability affects the efficiency of reengineering. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following practices contributes to preventing future software degradation?

    <p>Refactoring the program for better maintainability. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the impact of separating maintenance and development teams on software maintainability?

    <p>It creates disincentives for writing maintainable software. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a reason why maintenance work has a poor image among software engineers?

    <p>Maintenance requires several experienced staff. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is primarily responsible for the increased difficulty in changing programs as they age?

    <p>Degradation of the program structure over time. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which approach is LEAST likely to reduce maintenance costs?

    <p>Utilizing outdated programming languages for new features. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it often more expensive to add new features during maintenance compared to during development?

    <p>New teams must first understand existing systems. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best reflects a common issue faced by teams involved in software maintenance?

    <p>They often work on systems built with obsolete technologies. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant drawback of poor maintenance practices?

    <p>Higher likelihood of introducing new bugs. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which technique is most effective in controlling maintenance costs?

    <p>Adopting structured programming practices. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a consequence of maintenance increasing program complexity?

    <p>It makes it harder to introduce changes to the system. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement accurately describes the Spiral model in software evolution?

    <p>It allows for a seamless transition from development to evolution. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the servicing stage in software evolution involve?

    <p>Making only essential changes like bug fixes. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs during the phase-out stage of software evolution?

    <p>Only essential changes are maintained, with no updates for new functionality. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When might a customer take over software support and evolution in-house?

    <p>If they have sufficient expertise to manage evolution themselves. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary characteristic of software retirement?

    <p>The software is removed from use and often incurs costs for replacement. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What challenge is associated with using a separate company for servicing in software evolution?

    <p>Potential discontinuities in the evolution process. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what scenario may a company consider a replacement for their software?

    <p>When the software can no longer support essential operational requirements. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primary risk is associated with urgent change requests in software development?

    <p>Inconsistent requirements, design, and code (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a fundamental characteristic of agile methods regarding the evolution of software?

    <p>Incremental development allows for seamless transition from development to evolution (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What consequence may arise from making quick fixes in code without subsequent refactoring?

    <p>Accelerated program degradation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What challenge can arise when a development team uses an agile approach but the evolution team prefers a plan-based approach?

    <p>Expectations for detailed documentation not being met (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do TDD and automated regression testing play in agile software evolution?

    <p>They are valuable when changes are made to ensure code quality (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes the relationship between development and evolution in agile methods?

    <p>Development and evolution are interconnected and continuous (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What issue can arise from the evolution team's preference for agile methods if development was based on a plan-based approach?

    <p>Disagreement on the documentation standards (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What might be a potential drawback of frequent system releases in agile methods?

    <p>Higher chances of software aging (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be a consequence of not realigning system documentation and code during evolution?

    <p>Increased risk of system inconsistency (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the reasons maintenance costs can be significantly higher than development costs?

    <p>Maintenance of older systems can be hindered by their complexity. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes a potential consequence of continuous software maintenance?

    <p>The software structure may become corrupted, complicating future maintenance. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a core aspect of software reengineering?

    <p>It emphasizes understanding the existing program to make changes. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following strategies can help mitigate high maintenance costs of aging software?

    <p>Enhance the software's structure without changing its functionality. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is not part of the software reengineering process?

    <p>Implementing entirely new functional requirements (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why should maintenance be given as high a status as new software development?

    <p>Maintaining software is crucial for the longevity of systems. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a crucial aspect to consider when integrating development and maintenance?

    <p>A continual development process is essential for software evolution. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a possible drawback of choosing to avoid major changes in system architecture?

    <p>It may result in outdated technologies becoming integrated. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be a long-term solution for managing maintenance challenges in software?

    <p>Considering systems as part of a continuous development process. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an important factor contributing to maintenance difficulties of older legacy systems?

    <p>They may contain outdated structures and coding practices. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Spiral Model

    A software development model where the same company is responsible for the entire software lifecycle, including development and evolution.

    Custom Software Model

    Software development model used when the same company doesn't handle the entire lifecycle, like in customized software.

    Evolution Stage

    The stage where software is in active use and changes are made to meet new requirements.

    Servicing Stage

    The stage where software is still operational but only essential changes (like bug fixes) are made.

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    Phase-Out Stage

    The stage where the company considers replacing the software.

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    Retirement Stage

    The stage where the software is no longer used.

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    System Replacement

    The process of transitioning from an old software system to a new one.

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    Software Evolution

    Changes to a software system after its initial release. It involves maintaining, enhancing, and adapting the system to meet evolving requirements and address issues.

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    Urgent Change Requests

    Changes to a software system that are made urgently to fix a critical problem or address an immediate need. These changes are often unplanned and may not adhere to best practices due to time constraints.

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    Software Ageing

    The potential for software to degrade over time if code changes are not done systematically. This happens when quick fixes are made without considering the long-term impact on system structure and quality.

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    Agile Methods

    A development methodology that emphasizes iterative development, frequent releases, and continuous improvement. It's well-suited for managing changes and evolving software systems.

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    Seamless Transition from Development to Evolution

    The seamless transition from developing a software system to maintaining and evolving it. Agile methods contribute to this by fostering continuous development and adaptation.

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    Refactoring

    The process of re-structuring and cleaning up code after changes are made to improve its quality, readability, and maintainability. It's essential to minimize the risk of software degradation.

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    Handover Problems

    The challenges that arise when a development team using an agile approach hands over a system to an evolution team that follows more traditional plan-based methods. This can lead to misunderstandings and difficulties in managing changes.

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    Test-Driven Development (TDD)

    In agile methods, TDD (Test-Driven Development) involves writing automated tests before writing code. This is valuable in software evolution because it ensures that changes made don't break existing functionality.

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    Automated Regression Testing

    Automated regression testing is a critical part of software evolution. It involves running a suite of tests to ensure that recent changes haven't introduced errors into the existing software.

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    Software Maintenance

    The process of modifying a software system after it has been delivered to the user.

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    Maintenance Cost

    The cost incurred in maintaining a software system, including fixing bugs, adding new features, and adapting to changes.

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    Enhancement Maintenance

    Adding new features to an existing software system after it has been delivered.

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    Corrective Maintenance

    Fixing bugs or errors in a software system.

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    Adaptive Maintenance

    Adapting a software system to changes in the environment, such as new operating systems or hardware.

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    Perfective Maintenance

    Maintaining software to improve its performance, reliability, or security.

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    Maintenance Cost vs. Development Cost

    The cost of adding new features during maintenance is often higher than during development.

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    Software Engineering for Maintenance

    Good software engineering practices help reduce maintenance costs.

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    Maintainability

    The process of ensuring that a software system can be easily maintained.

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    Understanding Existing Code

    A new team needs to understand the existing codebase before making changes.

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    Factors Affecting Maintenance Costs

    Factors that influence software maintenance costs, including technical aspects like code complexity and non-technical aspects like user needs and business changes.

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    Software Reengineering

    A method of improving the structure and understandability of older software systems without changing their functionality.

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    Maintenance Cost Increases

    An increase in software maintenance costs over time, as changes accumulate and make the software more complex.

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    Reengineering Process Stages

    The process of re-documenting a software system, refactoring its architecture, translating programs to a modern language, and updating its data structure.

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    Evolving System Development

    A strategy to maintain software by considering it as an ever-evolving entity, integrating development and maintenance practices.

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    Maintenance Status

    Prioritizing maintenance activities on par with new software development, acknowledging its importance for long-term software success.

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    Avoiding Architecture Changes

    The practice of avoiding major changes to the architecture of a software system during maintenance, to minimize the impact on its structure and future maintenance.

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    What is refactoring?

    The process of improving existing software to make it more understandable, less complex, and easier to maintain. It aims to slow down degradation caused by changes.

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    What is program reorganization during software evolution?

    Relocating related parts of a program together to improve structure and reduce redundancy. This can involve combining separate databases into one or adjusting code organization.

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    What is data reengineering?

    This involves updating data schemas, migrating data between systems, and cleaning up inconsistencies like duplicate records. It's essential for maintaining data quality during software evolution.

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    How is refactoring like preventative maintenance?

    Refactoring is like preventative maintenance for software. It helps prevent problems from emerging as the system evolves by improving its structure and clarity.

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    What factors influence the cost of software reengineering?

    The cost of reengineering depends on factors such as the software's initial quality, the availability of tools and expert staff, and the extent of data conversion required.

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    Study Notes

    Software Evolution

    • Software systems have long lifecycles, requiring continuous adaptation and evolution.
    • Change is inherent due to new requirements, changing business environments, error correction, and hardware/software upgrades.
    • Software systems must adapt throughout their lifetime, from deployment to retirement.
    • A major challenge for organizations is effectively managing these changes to existing software systems.

    Importance of Evolution

    • Organizations heavily invest in software systems, viewing them as critical business assets.
    • Maintaining the value of these assets necessitates updates and modifications.
    • A significant portion of the software budget, often 60-90%, is devoted to modifying existing software rather than developing new systems.
    • Approximately 75% of the development workforce in the US is involved in software evolution.

    A Spiral Model of Development and Evolution

    • Illustrates an iterative approach to development and evolution.
    • The model incorporates stages like specification, implementation, validation, and operation, repeating in a spiral pattern to progressively refine the system.
    • Represents a cyclical process to manage change and evolution.
    • Progresses from release 1 through 3, iteratively.

    Software Evolution Models

    • Spiral model is appropriate when the same company handles the software's entire lifetime. This facilitates seamless transitions from development to evolution.
    • Custom software often follows different models where the customer may directly support or contract another company.
    • Discontinuities in evolution processes may occur due to factors like requirements and design document issues.
    • Companies merging or reorganizing may inherit software from other companies.

    Software Evolution Life Cycle for Business

    • Evolution: The operational phase of continuous software development where new requirements are incorporated, and the software adapts.
    • Servicing: Software modification with only essential bug fixes, without adding new features. No further development in this phase.
    • Retirement: Removal of software from ongoing use. Significant cost associated for system replacement and data migration.

    Evolution Processes

    • No single, standardized evolution process exists.
    • The evolution process depends on various factors: the specific software, development methodologies, and personnel expertise.
    • Proposals for change (new requirements, bug reports, improvements) trigger evolution.
    • Changes are linked to affected components for cost and impact assessment.
    • Change identification, evaluation, and evolution continue throughout the system's lifecycle. An iterative process.

    Change Identification and Evolution Processes

    • Iterative process where system revisions are meticulously planned, implemented, and rigorously tested.
    • Program understanding is crucial, especially when original developers are not involved in the change implementation.
    • Updated specifications and design documents are essential to reflect the changes.

    Change Implementation

    • Iterative process of implementing changes within the development lifecycle. This is critical due to the fact that the first stage can entail understanding the original system's functionality, especially when developers were not involved in the change implementation.
    • Specifications and design documents are updated to align with the changes.

    Urgent Change Requests

    • Urgent changes necessitate deviations from the regular software engineering process.
    • These changes may arise in response to system faults, environmental updates, or critical business demands.
    • Addressing urgent changes may require bypassing standard processes to ensure timely resolution.

    Agile Methods and Evolution

    • Agile development inherently aligns well with evolutionary development.
    • Evolution is seamlessly integrated into the ongoing development process.
    • Changes are often expressed as new user stories, which drive incremental adjustments.
    • Test-driven development (TDD) and automated regression tests are valuable for managing evolving systems.

    Handover Problems

    • Challenges arise when development and evolution teams use different methodologies.
    • Difficulties arise when evolution teams are unfamiliar with agile methodologies, and vice-versa.
    • Lack of documentation may cause challenges when expected.
    • Difficulties arise in transitioning from planned or process-driven approaches to agile or iterative approaches.

    Software Maintenance

    • Modifying software after deployment, often custom software.
    • Evolution differs slightly from maintenance, which focuses on continuous updates without a formal new release.
    • Maintaining existing systems typically does not mandate extensive architectural changes or significant overhaul.

    Types of Maintenance

    • Fault repairs: Addressing defects and fixing bugs.
    • Environmental adaptations: Tailoring the software to new operating environments.
    • Function addition/modification: Enhancing existing functionality to meet changed requirements.

    Maintenance Effort Distribution

    • Diagram illustrating the relative contribution of different maintenance tasks, categorized into fault repair, environmental adaptation, and functionality modifications. (Diagram not available).

    Maintenance Costs

    • Maintenance costs often exceed development costs, typically 2-100 times higher depending on the application.
    • Significant increases as software age, due to increasing difficulty in making changes to existing codebases, and increasing complexity of the system, due to adding additional features and code over time.
    • Costs influenced by technical and non-technical factors.

    Software Reengineering

    • Method for improving legacy systems' structure and comprehension.
    • Minimizes changes to functionality while modernizing system architecture.

    Reengineering Process Activities

    • Source code translation: Converting source code to a modern language.
    • Reverse engineering: Analyzing existing code for documentation and design understanding.
    • Program structure improvements: Reorganizing code to enhance clarity.
    • Program modularization: Grouping related code into independent modules.
    • Data reengineering: Restructuring data to improve efficiency and organization.

    Reengineering Cost

    • Reengineering expenses correlate to the modification scope.
    • Source code translation is the most economical option.
    • Architectural refactoring proves the most expensive option.

    Refactoring

    • Continuous process to enhance code readability and maintainability.
    • Focused on enhancing existing code without introducing new functionality.
    • Aims to address structural complexity without compromising program logic.

    'Bad Smells' in Program Code

    • Common code design flaws ('bad smells') that indicate opportunities for improvement.
    • Duplicate code: Identical code blocks, indicating potential for consolidation.
    • Long methods: Excessive method length, often suggesting modularization.
    • Switch statements: Extensive use of switches, indicative of potential polymorphism improvement.
    • Data clumping: Tight coupling of related data areas, suggesting refactoring into independent entities.
    • Speculative generality: Overly general code anticipating future requirements, potentially unnecessary complications.

    Key Points

    • Software development and evolution can be treated as an integrated cycle.
    • Custom software maintenance costs tend to far exceed initial development costs.
    • Software evolution typically responds to change requests and includes stages like change impact analysis and implementation.
    • Software reengineering targets system restructuring, addressing challenges in older systems, aiming to enhance readability and maintainability.
    • Refactoring is a vital technique to improve code structure without altering system functionality.

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