The second study topic investigates the financial and time implications of software maintenance on software development. Fig. 4, shows how the cost is distributed in the SDLC. The purpose of this was to find out how the total software development process is impacted by software maintenance costs and timelines.
Correcting, modifying, enhancing, and perfecting an already-in-use piece of software are all included in software maintenance. The user has the choice of whether to rectify, modify, enhance, or perfect the software, excepting major faults and necessary adjustments. The upkeep task is not necessary. It is frequently possible to continue using the software in its current state, even in cases of non-critical problems. Time and money are the two factors that determine whether to complete the maintenance operation or not. When improvements and perfection are involved, time and money are even more crucial factors. Considering the current economic climate, everything comes down to weighing the costs, benefits, and priorities.
Regarding the hypothesis that efficient maintenance procedures reduce time and money spent on software development, which in turn affects software quality, Edward E. Ogheneovo (2016) discovered a positive relationship between software complexity and maintenance costs. Ogheneovo discovered that as the complexity of the software system grows, so does the number of maintenance requests and the time and work necessary to accomplish each request. The study also discovered numerous elements that influence this relationship, such as the size and complexity of the program code, the number of features and functionalities, and the degree of interdependence among software components . In addition, Rajiv D. Banker et al. (1990) found that programs with higher cyclomatic complexity ratings were associated with higher maintenance costs. They also discovered that programs with greater maintenance expenses have a higher rate of error during maintenance. The authors examine the significance of their findings for software development and maintenance, arguing that developers should work to reduce software complexity in order to reduce maintenance costs .
With regards to address one of the research queries regarding the best methods of software maintenance that ensures the highest level of software quality, a survey was conducted. The aim of the survey was to gather information from the professionals’ opinions and experiences based on their experience with projects with regard to software maintenance techniques. Almost half of those polled (47.6%) have previously worked on a software maintenance project, demonstrating that software maintenance is a popular activity in the software business.