Critical mass (software engineering) explained

In software engineering, critical mass is a stage in the life cycle when the source code grows too complicated to effectively manage without a complete rewrite.^[1] At the critical mass stage, fixing a bug introduces one or more new bugs.^[2]

Tools such as high-level programming languages and techniques such as programming in the large, code refactoring and test-driven development, exist to make it easier to maintain large, complicated programs.

See also

• High-level programming language
• Programming in the large
• Code refactoring
• Test-driven development
• The Mythical Man-Month

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sharks, Debts, Critical Mass and other reasons to Sustain Quality. 15 February 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100121185859/http://www.testingreflections.com/node/view/8429. 21 January 2010.
2. Web site: critical mass . Catb.org . 2013-09-08.