The maintenance tag has no wiki summary.
2
votes
4answers
155 views
Linking in code comments (to other unique anchors/comments)
How would you recommend creating "anchors" in code comments, so that during maintenance, developers can easily cross-reference other code comments.
I realise that software should be intelligently ...
0
votes
0answers
60 views
initial Class design: access modifiers and no-arg constructors
Context:
Student working through Class design in personal/side project for Summer. I've never written anything implemented by others or had to maintain code. Trying to maximize encapsulation and ...
8
votes
5answers
251 views
switch statement - handling default case when it can't be reached
If I'm using a switch statement to handle values from an enum (which is owned by my class) and I have a case for each possible value - is it worth adding code to handle the "default" case?
enum ...
10
votes
10answers
535 views
Understanding already existing complex code base [closed]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the most effective way to add functionality to unfamiliar, structurally unsound code?
Till now, all I have worked on is with Java projects that I build from ...
16
votes
7answers
435 views
How to improve the training of students regarding maintainability?
Maintainability is a major stake of professional software development. Indeed, maintenance is nearly always the longest part of a software life cycle, as it lasts from the project release until ...
2
votes
0answers
51 views
GIS-based data visualization and maintenance tool
Background
Looking to leverage an existing GIS system for exploring organizational data.
Architecture
The following figure represents a high-level overview of the system's desired features:
The ...
16
votes
13answers
1k views
When is it acceptable to NOT fix broken windows?
In reference to broken windows, are there times when refactoring is best left for a future activity?
For example, if a project to add some new features to an existing internal system is assigned to a ...
21
votes
13answers
2k views
I just started a job with Scrum and something seems to be missing. I am new to Scrum
The code is a complete mess of a combination of classic ASP/ASP.NET. The scrum consist of us patching up the big mess or making additions to it. We are all too busy doing that to start a rewrite so I ...
5
votes
3answers
466 views
Readability of || statements
On HTML5 Boilerplate they use this code for jQuery:
<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.7.2/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script>window.jQuery || ...
2
votes
3answers
119 views
To reorganize code, what to choose between library and service?
I want to reorganize a large application with lot of code duplication into multiple components. Plus, some code is also duplicated over other applications.
The common set of functionality that can be ...
1
vote
5answers
165 views
Facing quality issues
A workforce management software has complex GUI (for example values in a page depends on the status (closed or open) of other pages). Only latest and near past development has test coverage. During ...
0
votes
2answers
83 views
What can I do to make sure my code gets maintained in a developer light environment?
I am a contract data analyst, so I bounce between jobs every 3-6 months, which I find to be a good fit for me, but it leads to some problems when it comes to coding. I mostly do statistics (I've asked ...
18
votes
13answers
945 views
Becoming a Better Bug-Fixer
I love being a programmer. There, I said it. However, with that said, I've realized lately that I really can't stand bug-fixing. At all.
In fact, while I'm developing something, my productivity is ...
6
votes
4answers
202 views
Communications regarding maintainability of code
I'm in search of good language or metaphors to discuss the maintainability of code with non-technical folks (PMs, business sponsors &c).
In particular, I've recently created a few one-off, ...
4
votes
3answers
233 views
What is a software maintenance retainer contract?
I'm a one man software start up and need to consider a software maintenance retainer contract for a client.
What is this, in simple terms? How could it benefit me or my client?
61
votes
9answers
2k views
What is the most effective way to add functionality to unfamiliar, structurally unsound code?
This is probably something everyone has to face during the development sooner or later.
You have an existing code written by someone else, and you have to extend it to work under new requirements.
...
0
votes
0answers
84 views
Newbie to Intermediate PHP Programmer - How to Deal with Maintenance Spaghetti Code? [closed]
Possible Duplicate:
Techniques to re-factor garbage and maintain sanity?
So I was given this project for a client, but the person who wrote the site originally did a terrible job (worse ...
29
votes
13answers
1k views
Problems (such as maintenance) in development with unpopular language
I'm developing some application with clojure(lisp) alone in my team. It starts as small application. No problem. But as it's having features and extending the area, it's becoming important program.
I ...
0
votes
2answers
106 views
Is changing the data model the toughest part of code maintenance? [closed]
In my job, among all the tasks assigned to me, I find the implementation of an enhancement that requires changes to the ER data model, the toughest. If we are adding a column to a table, it triggers ...
2
votes
2answers
144 views
How difficult is it to install and maintain IBM Rational DOORS?
I want to use IBM Rational DOORS for software development, but I would probably have to install and maintain it myself. How much effort is required? Is it something I can easily deploy on a server and ...
3
votes
3answers
295 views
How to store exception messages
How are exception messages commonly stored? for any domain. I'm thinking about this from a maintenance standpoint.
if(!Condition1)
throw new Exception("Some exception");
if(!Condition2)
...
1
vote
4answers
155 views
Design Document From Code
I am not much familiar with documenting/System designing stuff.
I have to maintain an application written in C# - working as windows service.
However there is no documentation for this system which ...
4
votes
3answers
104 views
Transitioning from being a bespoke development to a COTS development house
Currently one of the major applications that our organisation produces would be regarded as bespoke software as it is specifically designed for one specific client organisation.
However, we have ...
1
vote
3answers
157 views
Evaluating Software Maintenance
1. When to treat a software as deployed and when to start charging for maintenance ?
In most of the cases the software we make is deployed on the web at early stages to enhance the testing process ...
7
votes
2answers
256 views
Programming paradigms and the maintenance developer [closed]
I was reading, Facts and Fallacies of Software Engineering, which has a section of maintenance. Since, I'm have been a maintenance developer for years now, I was very interesting facts presented. ...
4
votes
2answers
184 views
How to maintain a demo version of an application?
I need to be able to demo our production application to prospective clients. The way I have it setup today is simple. The demo application is an exact duplicate of the production system, except that ...
0
votes
2answers
64 views
format of notes when debugging [closed]
I saw that some of my colleagues are making a lot of notes when debugging. I do make notes too, but they are very temporary and useless when you look at it next week.
do you create notes when ...
28
votes
7answers
5k views
Becoming a “maintenance developer”
So I've kind of been getting angry about the current position I'm in, and I'd love to get other developers' input on this.
I've been at my current place of employment for about 11 months now. When I ...
2
votes
5answers
197 views
What is the standard /an acceptable period of time to support a particular version of software?
Let's say version 2.4.x of Software Package X was released 2 years ago, and was sold up until about 6 months ago. Version 3.1.0 is now out (which fixes a lot of the issues with version 2.4.x), and is ...
20
votes
8answers
713 views
When do you rebuild an application or keep on fixing the existing one [closed]
Possible Duplicates:
When is a BIG Rewrite the answer?
When is it time to start afresh instead of trying to rewrite the existing project?
Have you ever been involved in a BIG Rewrite?
I ...
4
votes
1answer
92 views
Has there been any formal work comparing ease of maintenance at the programming language level?
Is there any formal work attempting to measure ease of maintenance for complex programs, comparing at the programming language level? Are there any formal measures for ease of maintenance, at any ...
3
votes
2answers
142 views
How do you approach a new project where the code has already been written? [closed]
Possible Duplicate:
How do you dive into large code bases?
I'm about to take on maintenance and enhancements of a fairly large and complex Java EE project with a Javascript front end.
I'm ...
6
votes
4answers
240 views
How can I transition out of a maintenance-only job?
After I started working at a company, I found out that the job is to maintain a software product. Most of the work that I'm doing is finding and fixing bugs. It's not easy work. However, there is no ...
4
votes
3answers
391 views
How to decide maintenance cost/terms for freelance work?
I am a JavaScript programmer and am planning to take Freelance projects related to JavaScript effects for the web. Recently a potential client approached me to create a JavaScript effect for his ...
1
vote
1answer
30 views
Branching an application setup/installer across versions?
I am wondering whether I should branch our installer script/project-file (we use InnoSetup) with each application release or whether I should keep one in installer script
that generates the setup for ...
59
votes
12answers
2k views
Is there a point to including a “change log” in every code file when you are using version control?
I was under the impression that a version control system eliminated the need to have "change logs" plastered everywhere in the code. I've often seen the continued use of change logs, including big ...
5
votes
6answers
294 views
Should I just slog it out or discuss with my PM?
Having "completed" my task, I have recently been assigned by my PM to work on a maintenance project by another PM. In this other project, the client wants to add new features and I'm assigned to do a ...
7
votes
3answers
144 views
How to manage maintenance
There are lots of great books and resources out there about managing new software developments, but very little that I've seen about managing ongoing maintenance of software systems. I'm not talking ...
15
votes
8answers
809 views
Why are websites (even this one) sometimes “Down for Maintenance”?
I have personally never done this. I don't understand why so many sites do, if you do your development on a development server why would you ever need to shut down your production site?
I have always ...
5
votes
2answers
116 views
Cost of maintenance depending on paradigms
Is there any data on which paradigms allow for code which is easier/cheaper to maintain? Certainly, independantly of the chosen paradigm, good design is cheaper to maintain than bad, but there should ...
18
votes
1answer
374 views
Unit test statistics
I'm a consultant which are going introduce unit tests to all developers at my client. All new applications should have unit tests for all classes created.
They got a problem today with high ...
13
votes
2answers
343 views
How do you keep your basic skills from atrophy?
I've been programming for about 10 years, and I've started to migrate to more of a project management position. I still do coding, but less often now. One of the things that I think is holding me back ...
1
vote
4answers
131 views
How far back do you use your version control and for what reason?
Typically when i work on a project i only go back a few days or the last major change when i decide to do something drastic.
I sometimes notice i broke a test or a feature and overlooked it for a few ...
14
votes
5answers
453 views
Is there a measure of code rot?
I'm dealing, again, with a messy C++ application, tons of classes with confusing names, objects have pointers into each other and all over, longwinded Boost and STL data types, etc. (Pause and ...
22
votes
11answers
647 views
How do you stay productive when dealing with extremely badly written code?
I don't have much experience in working in software industry, being self-taught and having participated in open source before deciding to take a job. Now that I work for money, I also have to deal ...
2
votes
1answer
581 views
Technical documentation of Android app
You are joining the development team of an existing Android app and are handed a technical document about it.
What information would you like it to have?
23
votes
7answers
655 views
Code maintenance: keeping a bad pattern when extending new code for being consistent, or not?
I have to extend an existing module of a project. I don't like the way it has been done (lots of anti-pattern involved, like copy/pasted code). I don't want to perform a complete refactor for many ...
5
votes
4answers
265 views
Do programmers at non-software companies need the same things as at software companies?
There is a lot of evidence that things like offices, multiple screens, administration rights of your own computer, and being allowed whatever software you want is great for productivity while ...
6
votes
3answers
206 views
Does abandon-ware code ever properly die?
It is my impression that, over time, more and more open source code is generated, added to various free or partially free repositories, and then generally abandoned.
Are there any generally accepted ...
9
votes
5answers
345 views
Evolution in coding standards, how do you deal with them?
How do you deal with evolution in the coding standards / style guide in a project for the existing code base? Let's say someone on your team discovered a better way of object instantiation in the ...
