Breaking Free from Maintenance Hell: Why Taking Care of Software is Essential
Published on November 05, 2024
Maintenance as a Core Component of Long-Lasting Software
Sandra Parsick, an experienced Java developer, has been actively working in agile software development since 2008, holding various roles. As a Java Champion and consultant, she has developed deep knowledge in Java Enterprise, cloud computing, and automating development workflows.
"If you don’t maintain software, it automatically becomes obsolete."
“Programming languages and libraries continue to evolve—without ongoing maintenance, things grind to a halt and eventually cause major issues,” she explains. Despite this, companies often undervalue maintenance, as management tends to prioritize new features and user-facing results.
Using outdated libraries or neglecting security patches complicates developers’ work unnecessarily and stifles innovation in the long run. New hires especially struggle during onboarding when faced with old, unfamiliar technologies that have built up over time. Sandra stresses that software maintenance isn’t just a luxury—it’s essential for the lasting stability and growth of a project.
The Management Dilemma: Why Maintenance as “Invisible Prevention” is Often Overlooked
Sandra compares maintenance work to preventive healthcare: “Maintenance is like going to the doctor—when everything’s fine, we don’t see the need. But the moment an emergency happens, the effort becomes enormous.” In reality, the benefits of maintenance remain invisible as long as there are no major issues. To management, maintenance often seems like an activity without any direct value—until a security vulnerability or system failure forces urgent action. At that point, the necessary updates tend to require significant effort, leading to high costs and lost time. A regular maintenance schedule, however, could prevent such costly leaps and save money in the long run.
Automation: The Solution to the “Maintenance Hell”?
For Sandra, automation in software development plays a crucial role, especially when it comes to maintenance. “A computer is inherently better suited to handle repetitive tasks,” says Sandra. Targeted automation makes routine work more efficient, freeing up resources for creative and more challenging tasks, while also boosting team morale. Sandra particularly recommends integrating automated processes early in new projects that don’t yet have a heavy maintenance burden. This proactive approach can significantly reduce the risk of falling into “maintenance hell” in the future.
AI in Maintenance: A Double-Edged Sword
Sandra views the role of artificial intelligence in software development with some hesitation. While AI can streamline repetitive processes, it also comes with risks—especially when it replaces tasks that were traditionally part of training for junior developers.
“Those foundational tasks that help new developers learn are often being automated away. But to truly use and evaluate AI effectively, you need firsthand experience writing that kind of code.”
By striking the right balance between automation and hands-on learning, teams can enhance productivity without sacrificing skill-building opportunities. Sandra emphasizes that a solid grasp of coding and system design is still crucial, even in an age of automation.
To sum up, Sandra calls for a strategic maintenance plan that prioritizes stability and future-readiness. Small, consistent maintenance efforts paired with thoughtful automation can reduce security risks and provide a better platform for future innovations.
Passion for Open Source and Community Work
In addition to her work as a freelance software developer, Sandra is actively involved in the open-source community, supporting projects like the Java conference “Cyberland.” When asked about the importance of open source to her, she expresses her enthusiasm for collaborative work and knowledge sharing: “The software industry has gained so much from open source—collaborating across company boundaries has sparked massive innovation.”
However, Sandra also acknowledges the challenges. Many developers in the community contribute voluntarily and are overwhelmed by the increasing demands of security requirements. “The people doing this in their free time end up flooded with security issues and don’t get the appreciation they deserve,” she says.
Sandra hopes that large companies, which have greatly benefited from open source, will give back to the community. For her, open source is both a passion and a cornerstone of innovation and knowledge exchange.
Sarah Grodd
Projektmanagerin
NUEDIGITAL
