Unveiling the Evolution: Multi-Patch Multi-Release Software Reliability Growth Model with Testing Effort

Authors

  • Veenu Singh Amity Institute of Information Technology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Vijay Kumar Department of Mathematics, AIAS, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • V. B. Singh School of Computer and Systems Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
  • Arun Prakash Agrawal School of Computer Science Engineering and Technology, Bennett University Greater Noida, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13052/jrss0974-8024.1727

Keywords:

Software reliability growth model, multi-release, patch, testing cost, multi-criteria decision making

Abstract

Reliance on software has increased expectations for software organizations to deliver high-quality software to meet the increasing demand from end-users. Continuous testing is imperative to ensure software quality, yet prolonged testing can lead to increased market opportunity costs. Consequently, organizations often opt to release software early and subsequently conduct testing during the operational phase, addressing existing bugs through patch deployment. These patches, small programs aimed at fixing, improving, or updating software, serve to rectify security vulnerabilities or bugs efficiently. For minor changes, patch releases prove more practical and cost-effective than launching entirely new software versions. The adoption of multi-release software endows developers with a competitive advantage, catering to the diverse needs of end-users. This paper introduces a testing effort-based software reliability growth model, evaluating the impact of multi-patching on multi-release software. The model operates under the assumption of continuous fault removal post-release, using different distribution functions to construct three framework variations. Parameter estimation employs the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, with a real dataset serving as a basis for a numerical example illustrating the model’s practical application. Additionally, a comparative analysis of model performance, based on different distribution functions, is conducted through multi-criteria decision-makingtechniques.

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Author Biographies

Veenu Singh, Amity Institute of Information Technology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

Veenu Singh has published a number of papers in referred Journals. She has presented various academic as well as research-based papers at several national and international conferences. Her research activity is set to explore the developmental role for the software industry.

Vijay Kumar, Department of Mathematics, AIAS, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

Vijay Kumar received his MSc in Applied Mathematics and MPhil in Mathematics from Indian Institute of Technology(IIT), Roorkee, India in 1998 and 2000, respectively. He has completed his PhD from the Department of Operational Research, University of Delhi. Currently, he is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics, Amity Institute of Applied Sciences, Amity University, Noida, India. He is co-editor of two book and has published more than 70 research papers in the areas of software reliability, mathematical modelling and optimisation in international journals and conferences of high repute. His current research interests include software reliability growth modelling, optimal control theory and marketing models in the context of innovation diffusion theory. He has edited special issues of IJAMS andRIO journal. He is an editorial board member of IJSA, Springer. He is a life member of Society for Reliability Engineering, Quality and Operations Management (SREQOM).

V. B. Singh, School of Computer and Systems Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India

V. B. Singh is a computer science professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). He has a Ph.D. in Software Engineering from the University of Delhi, an M.C.A. from M.M.M. Engineering College in Gorakhpur, and a B.Sc. from Udai Pratap College in Varanasi. His research interests include machine learning and software evolution. He has published more than 100 research articles in international journal and conferences of high repute.

Arun Prakash Agrawal, School of Computer Science Engineering and Technology, Bennett University Greater Noida, India

Arun Prakash Agrawal is a professor at School of Computer Science Engineering and Technology Bennett University Greater Noida, India. He has a Ph.D. in Software Engineering from GGSIPU Delhi, His research interests include machine learning and software engineering. He has published more than 70 research articles in international journals and conferences of high repute.

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Published

2025-01-09

How to Cite

Singh, V. ., Kumar, V. ., Singh, V. B. ., & Agrawal, A. P. . (2025). Unveiling the Evolution: Multi-Patch Multi-Release Software Reliability Growth Model with Testing Effort. Journal of Reliability and Statistical Studies, 17(02), 393–416. https://doi.org/10.13052/jrss0974-8024.1727

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