A methodology for minimizing maintenance costs

  • Authors:

  • Linda Brice;John Connell

  • Affiliations:

  • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico;Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico

  • Venue:
  • AFIPS '83 Proceedings of the May 16-19, 1983, national computer conference
  • Year:
  • 1983

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Abstract

Research conducted in the case study of a large applications system shows that the two primary causes of high maintenance costs are 1. The frequency of user-requested changes to software 2. The psychological complexity of the software A "tool kit" is suggested that, when applied to the design of new systems or rewrites, will 1. Produce systems that users are less likely to need changed 2. Contribute to the reduction of psychological complexity of code, making it easier to change when necessary The tool kit is easy to use, can be applied to large or small systems in any language on any equipment, and requires no purchase of hardware or software.