Software Evolution is a term that refers to the process of developing software initially, and then timely updating it for various reasons, i.e., to add new features or to remove obsolete functionalities, etc.
Software Evolution
The software evolution process includes fundamental activities of change analysis, release planning, system implementation, and releasing a system to customers.
- The cost and impact of these changes are accessed to see how much the system is affected by the change and how much it might cost to implement the change.
- If the proposed changes are accepted, a new release of the software system is planned.
- During release planning, all the proposed changes (fault repair, adaptation, and new functionality) are considered.
- A design is created to define the changes that will be implemented in the next version of the system.
- Change implementation is an iterative process where system updates are designed, implemented, and tested.
Necessity of Software Evolution
- Changing requirements: As an organization’s needs change over time, the software must be updated to support new ways of working and improve performance.
- Environmental changes: When the working environment or technology changes, software must evolve with updated features to stay compatible and useful.
- Errors and bugs: Older software becomes less efficient and more error-prone, so it needs updates to handle growing workloads and complexity.
- Security risks: Outdated software is vulnerable to cyberattacks, making regular updates and security patches essential.
- New features and performance: Software must continuously evolve to add new features, improve speed, and meet user expectations.
Laws used for Software Evolution
1. Law of Continuing Change
This law states that any software system that represents some real-world reality undergoes continuous change or become progressively less useful in that environment.
2. Law of Increasing Complexity
As an evolving program changes, its structure becomes more complex unless effective efforts are made to avoid this phenomenon.
3. Law of Conservation of Organization Stability
Over the lifetime of a program, the rate of development of that program is approximately constant and independent of the resource devoted to system development.
4. Law of Conservation of Familiarity
This law states that during the active lifetime of the program, changes made in the successive release are almost constant.