Software regression: Difference between revisions

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{{Unreliable sources|date=December 2019}}

A '''software regression''' is a type of [[software bug]] where a feature that has worked before stops working. This may happen after a certain event, such as a system upgrade, [[Patch (computing)|system patching]] or a change to [[daylight saving time]].<ref name=ibm-locating-bugs>{{cite conference |last1=Yehudai|first1=Amiram |last2=Tyszberowicz|first2=Shmuel |last3=Nir|first3=Dor|title=Locating Regression Bugs|url=https://wwwlink.researchgatespringer.netcom/publicationchapter/22543742810.1007/978-3-540-77966-7_18#:~:text=Abstract,patch%20causes%20the%20regression%20bug.|conference=Haifa Verification Conference|conference-url=https://www.research.ibm.com/haifa/conferences/hvc2017/previous.shtml|year=2007|accessdate=10 March 2018}}</ref> A '''software performance regression''' is a situation where the software still functions correctly, but performs more slowly or uses more memory or resources than before.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Shang|first=Weiyi|last2=Hassan|first2=Ahmed E.|last3=Nasser|first3=Mohamed|last4=Flora|first4=Parminder|date=11 December 2014|title=Automated Detection of Performance Regressions Using Regression Models on Clustered Performance Counters|url=https://sail.cs.queensu.ca/Downloads/ICPE2015_AutomatedDetectionofPerformanceRegressionsUsingRegressionModelsOnClusteredPerformanceCounters.pdf#page=1}}</ref>

Regressions are often caused by [[Hotfix|encompassed bug fixes]] included in [[software patch]]es. One approach to avoiding this kind of problem is [[regression testing]]. A properly designed [[test plan]] aims at preventing this possibility before releasing any software.<ref>{{cite book |last=Richardson |first=Jared |author2=Gwaltney, William Jr |title=Ship It! A Practical Guide to Successful Software Projects |url=https://archive.org/details/shipitpracticalg0000rich/page/32 |year=2006 |publisher=The Pragmatic Bookshelf |___location=Raleigh, NC |pages=[https://archive.org/details/shipitpracticalg0000rich/page/32 32, 193] |isbn=978-0-9745140-4-8 }}</ref> [[Automated testing]] and well-written [[test case]]s can reduce the likelihood of a regression.