Maintenance (Cambridge International A-Level Computer Science)
Exam board Cambridge International · A-LevelUpdated 2025-06-09
Types of maintenance
What is program maintenance?
- Program maintenance is the process of updating or improving a program after it has been delivered to the user
- Unlike physical equipment, programs don’t wear out, but they may need to be changed due to errors, changing requirements, or new technology
Why maintenance is needed
- To fix errors that were missed during testing
- To improve performance based on user feedback
- To adapt the software to new uses or platforms
Types of program maintenance
| Type | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Corrective | Fixes bugs or errors found during real-world use | Fixing a bug that causes the program to crash when special characters are entered |
| Perfective | Improves performance or adds small enhancements | Replacing a loading screen with a progress bar to give better user feedback |
| Adaptive | Modifies the program to support new environments or requirements | Modifying the program to work on a tablet instead of just a desktop computer |
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