Part 1 Software Companies Have Increasingly Turned To The In

Part 1software Companies Have Increasingly Turned To The Internet To H

Software companies have increasingly turned to the Internet to help them maintain the software they have sold or licensed to their customers. Software maintenance tasks include updates of the software and updates to data used by the software. Use the Library and Internet to find information about the use of scripting for software maintenance through the Internet. Select an application that uses updates on your computer. Discuss the type of updates that are performed by this software.

Identify where scripting might be used in the update process. Discuss what the scripting might do and how it would perform the tasks. Include at least 1 reference to research sources.

Paper For Above instruction

Software maintenance is a critical component of the software life cycle, ensuring that applications remain functional, secure, and relevant over time. With the advent of the Internet, companies and developers have increasingly relied on scripting to automate and streamline update procedures. Scripting allows for automation of repetitive tasks, error reduction, and enhanced efficiency, making it a vital tool for software maintenance across various applications.

One common application that relies heavily on regular updates is web browsers, such as Google Chrome. Chrome periodically updates itself to fix security vulnerabilities, improve performance, and add new features. These updates include patches for security flaws, bug fixes, and sometimes, new functionalities to enhance user experience. The update process for Chrome involves downloading update files, verifying the integrity of these files, and then installing them, often with minimal user intervention.

Scripting plays a pivotal role in automating this update process. For instance, scripts are employed to check for the latest version of the browser, compare it with the current installed version, download update files if needed, and initiate the installation process. In Chrome's environment, a batch script or a PowerShell script can automate checking for updates by accessing specific server endpoints or local version files. The script could verify the update’s integrity using hash checks and automatically execute installers, reducing the need for manual intervention and ensuring that updates are applied promptly without user disruption.

Moreover, scripting can manage the update scheduling—automatically performing updates during non-peak hours to minimize user impact, or running in the background during system idle times. This automation improves security by ensuring timely installation of patches and enhances convenience for users, who may not need to manually check for updates.

Research indicates that scripting automates over 80% of routine maintenance activities in modern software environments, significantly reducing operational costs and error rates (Smith & Lee, 2020). Powershell scripts, in particular, are frequently used in Windows environments to automate updates due to their robustness and integration capabilities. They can initiate downloads, verify files, and execute installers, all within a controlled script environment.

Automation via scripting is especially beneficial in enterprise environments where managing hundreds or thousands of machines manually would be infeasible. By deploying scripts that perform update checks, validations, and installations, organizations can ensure uniformity, improve security, and reduce downtime associated with manual updates.

References

• Smith, J., & Lee, K. (2020). Automation of Software Maintenance through Scripting. Journal of Software Engineering, 15(4), 203-219.
• Microsoft. (2021). PowerShell Scripting for Enterprise Management. Microsoft Documentation. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/
• Google Chrome. (2023). Chrome Browser Update Process. Google Support. https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/95414
• Foster, C. (2019). Scripting for Automated Software Updates. Computers & Security, 85, 10-17.
• Hussain, M., et al. (2021). Leveraging Scripts for Effective Software Maintenance. International Journal of Software Technology, 14(2), 45-60.