This paper outlines plans for the proposed development of a theory of software evolution. Apart from its intrinsic value, such a theory will advance understanding of the attributes of the software evolution phenomenon, its drivers and its practical impact on the software process and its products. If achieved, such a theory will provide means to identify and justify best practice in a world increasingly dependent on computers, where continuous software process improvement is of major, universal concern.
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Lehman et al. (2002) studied this question.
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