System Maintenance

• Systems maintenance is the fifth phase in the software development life cycle
• Systems maintenance involves checking changing and enhancing the system to make it more useful in achieving user and organizational goals.
• Reasons for maintenance include:
1. Changes in business process
2. Requests from stake holders, users and managers
3. Bugs or errors in the programs
4. Technical or hardware problems
5. Corporate mergers and acquisitions
6. Government regulations.
• Types of maintenance
1. Slipstream upgrade: a minor upgrade, typically a code adjustment or minor bug fix.
2. Patch: a minor change to correct a problem or make a small enhancement
3. Release: a significant problem change (i.e. service pack for windows profucts.
4. Version: a major program change.