In many conversations customers ask us on how software erosion will impact software development costs. This is a summary.

Software erosion can have a significant impact on software development costs. When software erosion occurs, the quality of the code decreases, and this can lead to increased defects and bugs in the software product. As a result, the cost of fixing these issues can increase over time. It may also require more resources and effort to maintain the software and prevent further erosion, which can add to the overall cost of software development.

In addition, as the complexity of the software increases due to erosion, it can become more challenging to maintain and modify the software, which can also increase development costs. This is because developers may need to spend more time understanding the code and figuring out how to make changes, which can slow down the development process and increase costs.

In safety-critical systems, such as those that need to comply with ISO 26262 or other safety standards, software erosion can be particularly costly. This is because eroded code can lead to undetected defects that can cause system failures or accidents. As a result, it may be necessary to invest in additional testing, verification, and validation activities to ensure that the software meets the required safety standards. These activities can add to the overall cost of software development.

Therefore, preventing and mitigating software erosion is critical to reducing software development costs. This involves taking proactive steps to prevent the erosion of the software code quality, such as adopting best practices for software design, development, and maintenance, using appropriate software tools and technologies, and regularly testing and validating the software to detect and fix any issues as early as possible. By preventing software erosion, development costs can be reduced, and the overall quality of the software product can be improved. Disclaimer: This article is reflecting my own personal view, not necessarily my employer's opinion.