A Case Study in Assessing the Maintainability of Large, Software-Intensive Systems
• SEI Report
Publisher
Software Engineering Institute
Topic or Tag
Abstract
Maintenance of a computer-based system accounts for a large proportion of the total system cost. However, no well-established techniques exist for assessing the maintainability of such a system. This paper presents a case study in assessing the maintainability of a large, software intensive system. The techniques we used are described, and their strengths and weaknesses discussed.
Cite This SEI Report
Brown, A., Carney, D., & Clements, P. (1995, March 1). A Case Study in Assessing the Maintainability of Large, Software-Intensive Systems. Retrieved September 12, 2026, from https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/a-case-study-in-assessing-the-maintainability-of-large-software-intensive-systems-2/.
@techreport{brown_1995,
author={Brown, Alan and Carney, David and Clements, Paul},
title={A Case Study in Assessing the Maintainability of Large, Software-Intensive Systems},
month={Mar},
year={1995},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
url={https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/a-case-study-in-assessing-the-maintainability-of-large-software-intensive-systems-2/},
note={Accessed: 2026-Sep-12}
}
Brown, Alan, David Carney, and Paul Clements. "A Case Study in Assessing the Maintainability of Large, Software-Intensive Systems." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, March 1, 1995. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/a-case-study-in-assessing-the-maintainability-of-large-software-intensive-systems-2/.
A. Brown, D. Carney, and P. Clements, "A Case Study in Assessing the Maintainability of Large, Software-Intensive Systems," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, 1-Mar-1995 [Online]. Available: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/a-case-study-in-assessing-the-maintainability-of-large-software-intensive-systems-2/. [Accessed: 12-Sep-2026].
Brown, Alan, David Carney, and Paul Clements. "A Case Study in Assessing the Maintainability of Large, Software-Intensive Systems." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 1 Mar. 1995. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/a-case-study-in-assessing-the-maintainability-of-large-software-intensive-systems-2/. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.
Brown, Alan; Carney, David; & Clements, Paul. A Case Study in Assessing the Maintainability of Large, Software-Intensive Systems. Software Engineering Institute. 1995. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/a-case-study-in-assessing-the-maintainability-of-large-software-intensive-systems-2/