Maintainability

This characteristic represents the degree of effectiveness and efficiency with which a product or system can be modified to improve it, correct it or adapt it to changes in environment, and in requirements. This characteristic is composed of the following sub-characteristics:

Modularity

Degree to which a system or computer program is composed of discrete components such that a change to one component has minimal impact on other components.

Modularity Rules

Reusability

Degree to which a product can be used as an asset in more than one system, or in building other assets.

Reusability Rules

Constants and common functions should be extracted into a shared class or library.

Analysability

Degree of effectiveness and efficiency with which it is possible to assess the impact on a product or system of an intended change to one or more of its parts, to diagnose a product for deficiencies or causes of failures, or to identify parts to be modified.

Analysability Rules

Modifiability

Degree to which a product or system can be effectively and efficiently modified without introducing defects or degrading existing product quality.

Modifiability Rules

Testability

Degree of effectiveness and efficiency with which test criteria can be established for a system, product or component and tests can be performed to determine whether those criteria have been met.