Most people don’t think about software maintenance until something goes wrong. But ignoring it can cause big problems. In 2019, hackers hit the City of Baltimore with ransomware. The city’s computer systems were old and not updated. This made them easy to attack. The city had not spent enough money on software maintenance. That mistake cost them a lot more than the ransom.
Also, in 2017, the NHS in the UK was hit by the WannaCry cyberattack. Almost 90% of NHS computers still use Windows XP. However, Windows XP has had no support since 2014. Over 75,000 people had their care delayed or moved. Why? Because old software, weak systems, and skipped updates can break important services.
So, why do some apps work great for years while others keep breaking? The answer is software maintenance. And no, it’s not just about fixing bugs. It’s a full-time job. It plays a big role in the Software Development Life Cycle.
It covers many things. Like fixing bugs (corrective). Or changing the software when tech changes (adaptive). Or even make it work better by adding fun features (perfective). It also helps stop future issues (preventive).
In this post, we’ll explain these four types of software maintenance. We’ll also show how they help both regular software and cloud-based apps (SaaS). You’ll see why maintenance is not just an afterthought. It’s a must.
So, what exactly is software maintenance?
In simple words, software maintenance means changing and updating apps after they go live. These changes help them keep working well and stay useful. This includes fixing bugs, making the app easier to use, adjusting to new tech, or adding new tools.
And no, it’s not a one-time job. It keeps going for the whole life of the app. Many software engineers even say that more than half of a software system’s cost goes into maintenance. That’s a lot!
Also, here’s something to know. About 60% of a software system’s budget usually goes to maintenance. And most of that money isn’t even for fixing bugs. It’s for adding new things and making apps better over time.
Why is software maintenance so important?
Well, regular software maintenance makes sure your software keeps working. It also keeps it safe, smooth, and fast, even when things around it change. Good maintenance helps software applications and SaaS tools to:
Keep working right
It fixes bugs and errors found after launch. That way, the app runs well across different devices, screens, and systems.
Fit new tech
It updates the system so it works with new devices, operating systems, or rules. This makes the software easier to maintain as tech changes.
Stay safe
It adds patches and updates to block hackers before they attack. That keeps both the app and the user safe.
Run faster
It tweaks the code and system settings to make things smoother. This is key for a fast and easy user experience in both apps and SaaS tools.
Save money and last longer.
When you keep your software up to date, you won’t need to build a new one from scratch. That saves time, money, and stress. One IEEE study says maintenance helps keep software strong, costs low, and life long.
How do you decode the different types of software maintenance?
Software maintenance has four main types. Each one does something special.
Corrective Maintenance
This is when you fix bugs after the software goes live. For example, if a user says the login isn’t working right, the team will fix it with an update. This is called corrective maintenance. It helps make the app work right again. You often see results fast. That makes users happy. Good apps and SaaS tools need working screens and features. Corrective maintenance is a big part of keeping things smooth in the Software Development Life Cycle.
Adaptive Maintenance
This means changing the app so it fits a new environment. For example, maybe the app was built for an old Windows system. But now it needs to work on a newer version. Or maybe the rules changed, and you need to update the code. It could even be that a cloud service changed its API, and your SaaS app needs to adjust. These changes don’t always show on the outside. But they’re super important. Adaptive maintenance makes sure the app doesn’t stop working as tech or laws change.
Perfective Maintenance
This one is all about making the app better. It could be adding a new feature. Or changing the way the screen looks to make it easier to use. Maybe the users asked for something new. Or maybe the team just wants to improve the code to make it run faster. This is preventive maintenance. It’s how apps grow and stay useful. It keeps the software development process in sync with what people want. For apps and SaaS tools, this step adds big value over time.
Preventive Maintenance
This one is like doing a health check for the app before it gets sick. It’s all about stopping problems before they happen. Teams might clean up messy code or update old parts. They may add more tests or upgrade tools. Sometimes, they even prepare the system for high traffic in the future. This doesn’t change the app for users right away. But it helps a lot later. Preventive maintenance makes sure things don’t break down all of a sudden. It also makes the app stronger and easier to work with in the long run.
What is the Step-by-Step Software Maintenance Process?
Taking care of software is a lot like building it. Just like the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), software maintenance also follows clear steps. These steps help teams stay on track. A common way to break this down includes the following stages:
Identification & Tracing
First, we must find out what needs fixing. This may come from users who report bugs, ask for changes, or flag security problems. Sometimes, we find things during a regular check-up. Once we spot the issue, we log it and trace it to the right part of the software. Thales Consulting says this means “figuring out what part needs to change or be fixed.” This step is super important for SaaS apps and other tools. It helps keep the user experience smooth and the interface working right.
Analysis (Impact & Feasibility)
Next, we look at what the problem is and how big it is. We try to see what the change will affect and how hard it will be. So, we ask: What parts will this change touch? How much time and effort will it take? Is this worth doing now? This part often includes checking the cost and risks. For big company software, this step is key because these systems are deeply tied to the rest of the business.
Design
Then, based on what we found, we plan the change. We make new design sketches or update the system design. Sometimes we also change diagrams or tweak the user interface. Even for bug fixes, a small design plan helps the update fit in nicely with the rest of the software. This design step keeps everything running well in the software cycle. It also helps SaaS apps stay flexible and ready to grow.
Implementation (Coding)
After that, we build the change. We write new code or update old code follow the plan from the design step and we also added tests to check for new behavior. Good coding habits—like checking each other’s code—help us avoid mistakes. With a strong process in place, this step makes the software even better than before.
Testing
Now, it’s time to test. We check each part (unit tests), how they work together (integration tests), and the full system. Thales says testing and final checks are a must before launching. We do regression tests too, to make sure nothing else broke. In SaaS and other apps, we want the user’s experience to stay smooth. Sometimes we let a small group of users try the update first. That helps catch problems we may have missed.
Deployment (Release)
Next, we launch the update. This can be a quick fix, a planned release, or a slow rollout. We may need to update help files or train users, too. If needed, we move data and tell users about the update. Using things like feature flags or canary releases helps lower the risk. This is really useful for SaaS tools that lots of people use every day. We want things to go live without any issues.
Monitoring & Feedback
Once it’s live, the job isn’t done. We watch logs, system speed, and user feedback to make sure the update works. If new issues pop up, we take note. This step starts the next software cycle. Getting good feedback early helps us keep making the system better. We keep tweaking the interface and software setup to stay ahead.
So, when we follow these steps, software maintenance becomes smooth, steady, and smart. Careful steps like spotting the problem, studying it, and planning it well stop bad changes from happening. Testing and feedback help keep things stable after every fix. Whether it’s old apps, cool SaaS tools, or big company platforms, this method keeps things working well for the long run. Happy users and a strong system are the final result.
Which factors determine the costs of software maintenance?
Keeping software running can cost a lot. In many cases, it costs even more than building it the first time. Some reports say that up to 90% of the full cost of software is from maintenance. Even the “60/60 rule” says 60% of costs go to updates and fixes. Most of that money goes to making things better and keeping user interfaces clean. So, why does it cost so much? Here are some big reasons:
Technical Complexity & Legacy Technology
Old and complex software is harder to fix. Legacy code often uses old tools that few people know. So, even small fixes can take a long time. One Hyland article says companies “burn through their bottom line” trying to keep old tools alive. These systems need constant care and special updates. As they age, server and patch costs shoot up. If we don’t upgrade these tools often, costs keep growing.
Poor Documentation & Knowledge
To fix software, teams must know how it works. If there are no notes, no diagrams, or no comments in the code, then developers must figure it all out from scratch. This takes time and raises the chance of mistakes. Experts say that good notes made during the build stage are super helpful later. They save time and make fixes safer. Without this, maintenance becomes much harder and slower.
Team Skill and Turnover
The people who fix the software matter a lot. Skilled engineers who know the software can solve problems faster. But if those key people leave, it’s hard to keep up. New team members need time to learn. This slows things down. A study on health systems found that when the original builders stayed involved and had good notes, it helped a lot. It lowered costs and kept the system running longer.
Accumulated Technical Debt
Sometimes, teams take shortcuts during development. This leads to “technical debt.” That means the code is messy, lacks tests, or is built in a risky way. This makes later changes harder. One study found that fixing tech debt in a system with one million lines of code could cost $1.5 million. If we ignore these problems, they get worse over time. But if we handle them early during the build cycle, we save time and money later.
System Age & Architecture
Old systems are harder to fix. Some parts may not be replaceable. Some tools they depend on may no longer work. When hardware or outside tools stop working, costs go up. Also, if the system is built all in one big piece (monolithic), it’s tough to change just one part. Modern apps now use microservices instead. This new setup is easier to update and grows better. SaaS tools use this model more and more today.
Environmental Changes
Laws and platforms change fast. This means software often needs quick updates. For example, a new privacy rule may require code changes. Also, when platforms like Windows or iOS are updated, the software must keep up. For SaaS tools, this is even more important. They must work on many platforms and always offer a good user experience.
Scale and User Base
Big software with lots of users needs more support. This means more fixes, more updates, and 24/7 help. Global tools also need to follow local rules and offer local versions. All this adds work. SaaS tools must keep working all the time to avoid losing users. If they don’t, people may leave and pick a better service.
So, what do these costs include? We have direct costs like paying developers, buying test tools, or running servers. Then there are indirect costs like lost time, lost money, or bad reviews. For example, surveys show that system downtime can cost millions each hour. Atlassian says a system outage can cost $2,300–$9,000 per minute. Even a short crash can hurt trust. One bug in Intel’s chip once cost them $475 million. Other times, old unpatched software caused big security leaks that cost companies a lot.
That’s why software budgets must plan for long-term care. It’s smart to save a regular budget just for maintenance. Often, it should be about the same as the cost to build new features. If we don’t plan for this, things can go wrong fast. Over time, bad maintenance leads to buggy code, security holes, legal trouble, and system failures. Some reports say most companies are close to having their software “fall apart” because they didn’t take maintenance seriously.
What are the Common Challenges in Software Maintenance (and How to Overcome Them)?
Even with good practices, teams still face problems in software maintenance. Let’s look at the common issues and how to fix them.
Legacy Systems
Many companies still use very old software. These systems use old code and old styles. They are hard to change and easy to break. Even if they still run, they cost a lot to keep going. In fact, experts say old systems can use up a company’s money very fast.
Old systems often need special fixes. They also need extra checks to stay safe and work well. To fix this, companies should plan slow updates. One way is to hide the old parts behind APIs. Another way is to move the system bit by bit to a new setup.
If full change isn’t possible right away, use extra safety steps. This includes adding patches, using virtual machines, and doing more tests. These steps are a key part of the Software Development Life Cycle. They help the system stay strong for the long term.
Poor Documentation
Missing notes and records slow everything down. When the original notes are gone, each change feels like solving a mystery. To fix this, teams should update notes as they work. They can draw quick charts or write a wiki with helpful info.
It also helps to follow set rules for writing code. For example, always add notes to hard parts. Making a list of FAQs or steps for fixing problems also helps others in the future. Clear records help people understand the system faster. They also make updates easier for software and tools.
Budget and Resource Constraints
Many times, maintenance is the first thing to lose money when budgets are tight. New projects look more exciting. But putting off maintenance now can cost a lot later. For example, it can lead to big crashes or hacks.
To fix this, team leaders should explain the risks. They can show how much money will be lost if the system goes down. One good idea is to save a set amount of the budget for maintenance. This makes sure it’s not always pushed aside.
Another way is to outsource small jobs like patches. Or use a service that handles updates. These tricks help teams do more with less. They also keep maintenance as part of the Software Development Life Cycle and the full software process.
Technical Debt and Code Rot
Even good systems get messy over time. People take shortcuts. Quick fixes pile up. Old tools stop working. All this builds what we call “tech debt.”
This makes every change harder and riskier. To fix this, teams should track their tech debt. Tools can help spot weak spots in the code. Also, plan special weeks to clean things up.
Start with the biggest problems, like bugs that can hurt safety or break the system. Cleaning the code often keeps the system strong. It also helps users have a smoother time.
Rapidly Evolving Technology
Tech changes fast. New tools and styles come out all the time. That’s good for growth. But it’s hard for teams to keep up.
For example, a website made with old tools may not work well today. To fix this, teams should watch tech news. Then, plan small updates to stay current. Move to new tools before the old ones stop working.
Train your team, too. Teach them new skills like DevOps, cloud tools, and containers. This way, they’re ready for the future. Also, systems can be built in small, separate parts. This makes changes easier later. It also helps improve user experience and support newer looks.
Team Turnover
When people leave and new ones join, problems start. The new team may not know the old code well. Mistakes can happen fast.
To fix this, let people work in pairs. Have mentors to guide new team members. When someone leaves, make sure they hand over their work properly.
Also, draw big-picture charts, write how systems talk to each other, and explain each part. Share knowledge with the whole team. That way, no one person holds all the answers. Keep the code neat and easy to read. These tips help new people work better and faster. They also support the Software Development Life Cycle and software upkeep.
Poor Communication and Process
If teams work without a plan, many things go wrong. Problems get lost. Fixes are delayed. When the developers and IT teams don’t talk, things fall apart.
To solve this, teams should follow clear steps. Use easy-to-access tools to track problems. Set regular team check-ins. These good habits are part of strong software processes. They also help give users a better experience.
Every one of these problems can be fixed with smart planning. For example, some big tech crashes in recent years have happened because of old systems and not having enough money for updates. Companies must learn from these mistakes.
Maintenance should be a big part of every software plan. Don’t treat it like a side job. A strong focus on maintenance makes software better, keeps users happy, and helps modern tools work well. This is key for all software, from apps to SaaS platforms.
What is the Future of Software Maintenance?
Software maintenance is changing fast. New tools and ways of working are shaping the future. Let’s look at the key trends:
AI/ML for Predictive Maintenance
Just like factories use AI to stop machines from breaking, we now use AI in software to catch problems early. Machine learning can look at old bugs, logs, and code changes. Then it can guess where things might break. It gives teams a warning before anything goes wrong. This helps fix problems early. That means less downtime and longer life for the software.
For example, AI might see that one part of your app is slowing down. It tells the team to fix it before users notice. This saves time and avoids stress. In short, it keeps everything running smoothly and makes your users happy.
Automation & DevOps Integration
More and more, we use automation in software maintenance. It’s not just about CI/CD anymore. Now, smart tools check code while you write it. They spot bugs, bad code, and even security issues.
Some tools work like ChatGPT. They help fix the code or rewrite it. Others run complex updates on their own. Because of this, we spend less time on boring tasks. So, we can focus on the big stuff instead.
DevOps helps, too. It mixes coding, testing, and running apps into one process. This way, teams work faster and fix things quickly. It also keeps your software fresh and easy to update. If you’re using SaaS, these updates become smooth and fast.
Cloud-Native and Microservices
Today, most apps are in the cloud. So, software maintenance also changes. Cloud platforms offer ready-to-use tools for logging, login, databases, and more. These tools make it easier to maintain systems.
Microservices break apps into smaller pieces. This means you can update just one part at a time. It makes updates simpler and rollbacks safer. We also use containers like Docker and Kubernetes. They keep things the same in every place, from testing to production. So, patches and scaling become easier.
But there’s more to handle now. Teams must manage cloud settings, images, and systems. So yes, it’s easier and faster. But we also need new skills and tools. These changes touch every step of the software development process.
Emphasis on Security and Supply Chain
Security is now a big part of software maintenance. With more cyber threats, we must be careful. That’s why we use DevSecOps. This adds security checks to our daily work. Scans, patching, and rule-checking now happen all the time.
We also use something called SBOMs (Software Bill of Materials). It’s like a list of all the parts inside your software. When a problem shows up in one part, SBOMs help us find and fix it fast. Groups like the FDA now ask for SBOMs in some areas.
In the future, we may have smart tools that use SBOM data. These tools can apply patches by themselves, across all products. This will make SaaS apps safer and help keep systems healthy.
Automation Tools & Platforms
We will see more tools that fix problems on their own. For example, some will update old code to work with new languages. Others will sort new bugs and send them to the right people.
Also, tasks like updating databases or changing API versions will be done by scripts. This will cut down errors and speed up fixes. These tools will also help users. They’ll make sure your app stays fast and stable.
All in all, automation will be a huge part of every step in building and keeping software up to date.
Focus on User Experience and Feedback Loops
Software maintenance isn’t just technical. It also means making the app better for users. We’ll look at how people use the app. Then we’ll know what to improve next.
We’ll use data from surveys, A/B tests, and usage stats. These tell us what users like or don’t like. Then, we make small updates to fix those things. This keeps the app easy to use, fast, and useful.
If users are happy, they’ll stick around. So, better maintenance also means better business.
Conclusion
Software maintenance might not sound exciting. But it’s a key part of making software last and work well. In this article, we saw how it covers many tasks. These include fixing bugs, improving security, adding features, and stopping future problems.
Fixing things early is always better than waiting too long. As someone once said, ignoring maintenance is like letting bridges fall apart. But well-kept systems—especially those built with solid software frameworks—run better and safer. That gives you a real edge in every part of the Software Development Life Cycle.
So, don’t wait for disaster. Skipping key maintenance steps can lead to huge problems. Think of cases like the ransomware attacks on Baltimore or the NHS. These cost millions and hurt trust. If you don’t take care of your user interfaces and system parts, you risk bugs, hacks, and falling behind.
Other companies are moving fast. They use smart SaaS solutions and modern software frameworks. If you don’t keep up, you’ll lose out. They’ll grab the market while you deal with breakdowns.
That’s where Linkitsoft comes in. We’re the go-to experts for software maintenance. Our smart tools use AI to catch issues early. Our team is great at DevSecOps and cloud systems. We help at every level—from the back end to the user interface—so your software stays top-notch.
We make sure your software keeps running, growing, and winning. Our plans work with any software development process. They fit right into all types of software frameworks and SaaS solutions.
So, don’t fall behind. Team up with Linkitsoft and stay ready for the future. We help with quick fixes and long-term plans. Whether it’s a new SaaS or a classic system, we’ve got you covered.
Take action today. Go to Linkitsoft.com. Let us help you stay safe, strong, and ahead in every part of the Software Development Life Cycle.
