IEEE Introduction

This introduction is not part of ISO/IEC/IEEE 14764:2005(E), Standard for Software Engineering-Software Life Cycle Processes-Maintenance.

This International Standard provides guidance on the Software Maintenance Process. Software Maintenance is a primary process in the life cycle of a software product, as described in ISO/IEC 12207, "Information technology - Software life cycle processes." The Maintenance Process contains the activities and tasks of the maintainer. This International Standard is part of the ISO/IEC 12207 family of documents. In this International Standard, ISO/IEC 12207 refers to ISO/IEC 12207:1995 as amended in 2002 and 2004. The only mandatory clauses in this International Standard come from ISO/IEC 12207. The mandatory clauses contain shalls and each shall from ISO/IEC 12207 that is duplicated in this International Standard is boxed. The related ISO/IEC 12207 clause number is listed after the boxed ISO/IEC 12207 shalls. This International Standard is the result of the harmonization of ISO/IEC 14764 and IEEE Std 1219-1998.¹

Because maintenance consumes a major share of a software life cycle financial resources, it should be an important project consideration.

During operation of the software, problems may be detected that were not detected during validation and acceptance. Therefore, a maintenance effort is needed to cope with these problems. This maintenance effort also covers software improvements needed to meet new or modified user requirements. Software maintenance is commonly needed when upgrading system components, such as operating systems and databases, as well as when modifications are made to external software and systems interfaces. Software maintenance may be a significant portion of life cycle costs.

Software maintainers use a number of specific tools, methods, and techniques. This International Standard does not specify how to implement or perform the activities and tasks in the Software Maintenance Process since these are dependent upon the formal agreement and organizational requirements. Maintenance is required on all types of software, whatever the technology, technique, or tool used to create it.

Clause 1 provides the scope of this International Standard. Clause 2 provides conformance information. Clause 3 provides normative references. Clause 4 provides terms and definitions. Clause 5 provides the application of this International Standard. Clause 6 provides the details of the Maintenance Process. Clause 7 provides execution considerations for the Maintenance Process. Clause 8 provides the software maintenance strategy. Annex A provides a cross reference between clauses in this International Standard and ISO/IEC 12207. Annex B provides a list of abbreviations used in this International Standard. Annex C provides a bibliography.

Notice to users

Errata

Errata, if any, for this and all other standards can be accessed at the following URL: http://standards.ieee.org/reading/ieee/updates/errata/index.html. Users are encouraged to check this URL for errata periodically.

Interpretations

Current interpretations can be accessed at the following URL : http://standards.ieee.org/reading/ieee/interp/index.html.

Patents

Attention is called to the possibility that implementation of this standard may require use of subject matter covered by patent rights. By publication of this standard, no position is taken with respect to the existence or validity of any patent rights in connection therewith. The IEEE shall not be responsible for identifying patents or patent applications for which a license may be required to implement an IEEE standard or for conducting inquiries into the legal validity or scope of those patents that are brought to its attention.

Participants

At the time this standard was completed, the Software Maintenance Working Group had the following membership:

Paul Croll, Chair

Thomas Pigoski, Editor

James W. Moore, Liaison to ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7

The following members of the individual balloting committee voted on this standard. Balloters may have voted for approval, disapproval, or abstention.

Edward Bartlett	Christof Ebert	Carol Long	Mike Smith
Bakul Banerjee	John Fendrich	James Moore	Mitchell Smith
Juris Borzovs	Gregg Giesler	Jeremy Moore	Luca Spotorno
Curtis Browne	John Garth Glynn	Richard Moore	Thomas Starai
Bruce Bullock	Lewis Gray	Rajesh Moorkath	Richard Thayer
Joseph Butchko	Michael Grimley	Gerald Radack	Scott Valcourt
Keith Chow	Victoria Hailey	Annette Reilly	John Walz
Antonio M. Cicu	John Horch	Garry Roedler	Oren Yuen
Todd Cooper	Peeya Iwagoshi	Terence Rout	Janusz Zalewski
Paul Croll	William Junk	James Ruggieri	Li Zhang
Geoffrey Darnton	Joerg Kampmann	James Sanders	Geraldine Zimmerman
Guru Dutt Dhingra	Piotr Karocki	Robert J. Schaaf
Einar Dragstedt	Ron Kenett	David Schultz
Clint Early	J. Dennis Lawrence	Carl Singer

When the IEEE-SA Standards Board approved this standard on 30 March 2006, it had the following membership:

Steve M. Mills, Chair

Richard H. Hulett, Vice Chair

Don Wright, Past Chair

Judith Gorman, Secretary

Mark D. Bowman	William B. Hopf	Ronald C. Petersen
Dennis B. Brophy	Lowell G. Johnson	Gary S. Robinson
Joseph Bruder	Herman Koch	Frank Stone
Richard Cox	Joseph L. Koepfinger*	Malcolm V. Thaden
Bob Davis	David J. Law	Richard L. Townsend
Julian Forster*	Daleep C. Mohla	Joe D. Watson
Joanna N. Guenin	Paul Nikolich	Howard L. Wolfman
Mark S. Halpin	T. W. Olsen
Raymond Hapeman	Glenn Parsons

* Member Emeritus

Also included are the following non-voting IEEE-SA Standards Board liaisons:

Satish K. Aggarwal, NRC Representative

Richard DeBlasio, DOE Representative

Alan H. Cookson, NIST Representative

Mike Fisher

IEEE Standards Project Editor

BS ISO/IEC 14764:2006

Software engineering. Software life cycle processes. Maintenance

Published:

31 Oct 2006

Withdrawn:

8 Mar 2022