Supportsoft Glossary

Identifying and Fixing Software Defects

A "bug" is a term that refers to defects within the software code which will cause the software to perform in some way differently than was intended. Bugs can arise from small issues such as a single misplaced character in code to much larger issues such as flawed architecture decisions. Many times bugs are detected during the software development process, but they can also be discovered only when people are actually using the software since there can be a significant number of edge cases that were not initially anticipated by the developer.

When trying to identify an issue that is a result of a bug, the developer typically will begin identifying symptoms. The app may crash, or a button might not respond and produce results that are not what was intended. The developer will then work on identifying where the issue is originating from using tools such as log analysis, breakpoints, or systematic testing, and once the root cause of the issue is identified, the developer should take care to implement a fix so that the fix resolves the issue and does not create additional issues.

Bugs do not necessarily indicate that a product has been poorly developed; they are part of the software development process and should be anticipated. What is most important is how effectively the development team is able to identify, prioritise, and address bugs once they have been identified. Ultimately, the goal in managing bugs is to provide a stable product to end-users, ensure a high-quality user experience, and continually enhance the product.