A Study of Fundamental Factors Underlying Software Maintenance Problems
Abstract
'Problems faced by programmers who must maintain programs someone else wrote' are identified. They are reduced to three fundamental inhibiting factors: (1) the limited rate at which people can make 'relevance tests,' (2) over-confirmation in clues required before hypothesis-testing, and (3) human vulnerability to distraction and procrastination. Studies suggested collectively by these factors were conducted. The studies (1) ascertained that programmers tend to think in terms of conceptual groupings whose objective identification would be helpful, (2) indicated that it was feasible to trace the path the programmer takes as he prepares to make a modification, and (3) identified a few tentative measures of the degree of maintainability of computer programs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 20, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0739479