 A Comprehensive Study on Software Maintainability:Evolution,Practices, and Contemporary Implications

Abstract

Software quality management is a critical concern in the field of software engineering, aimed at ensuring the delivery of reliable and maintainable software systems. Among the various software quality attributes, "maintainability" holds a pivotal role as it determines the ease with which a software system can be modified, extended, and fixed throughout its lifecycle. This research paper delves into the multifaceted dimensions of software quality attribute "maintainability," exploring its history, relation in SQM five model, metrics used for evaluating quality, market standard of maintainability, cost of quality of maintainability, how it is addressed in the software life cycle (waterfall/agile), how it is addressed in project management tools and implications on cloud computing. Through extensive analysis, and studying the comprehensive reviews of existing literature, this paper sheds light on the best practices available in the market associated with maintaining software systems over time. By investigating real-world scenarios and drawing insights from industry standards, the paper provides valuable guidance for software practitioners and researchers alike to enhance software maintainability and contribute to the overall quality of software products.