Introduction to Maintainability Testing

Apr 31, 2020

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Maintainability is the capability of the software/ system to readily go through any type of changes, to update it, in order to meet the requirements. It is the degree of measuring the software or system potential to undergo changes, to meet the requirements. These requirements may include

• Correction of errors or faults,
• Additional functionality,
• Adapting the changing environment,
• Prevention of unexpected failures,
• Future maintenance, etc.

What is Maintainability Testing?

It is a type of non-functional testing, which is performed to evaluate the software or system’s ability to get modified without any issues, so as to satisfy the and meet the changing requirement and needs of the user. This type of testing ensures the hassle free implementing the modifications in the system.

As per ISO/IEC 9126, maintainability aspect, basically concerns with the following attributes

• Analyzability : To estimate the efforts required in tracing defects along with the identification of parts of the system that needs to undergo change.
• Changeability:Software's ability to undergo changes.
• Stability: Ability to remain stable after modification process.
• Testability: Inherent characteristic of software, that determines the efforts needed in testing the updated system.
• Maintainability Compliance

This testing deals with the evaluation of the above mentioned five attributes of the maintainability in the software or system.

How Maintainability Testing is carried out?

This testing can be carried out by either using static testing techniques or dynamic testing methods.

• Static Testing deals with the structure, complexities and other traits of the source code along with the examination of documentation part of the software development process. It basically, comprises following activities
  • Inspection
  • Reviews
  • Walkthroughs
• Dynamic Testing encompasses following testing methodologies which focuses on identification of defects, to prevent unexpected failure of the software or system.
  • Functional Testing
  • Non-Functional Testing

Some Key Points of Maintainability Testing

• A type of non-functional testing that ensures the competency of the software or system to accept modifications in it.
• Ensures acquiescence of maintainability attributes-Analyzability, Stability, Testability, Changeability, Maintainability compliance.
• Maintainability testing and maintenance testing are two different types of testing.
• Guarantees software's efficiency to go through the modification process, so as to meet the frequently changing requirements of the clients or customers.
• Effective for the future maintenance of the system or software.