What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to provide a structured approach to maintaining a business system without source code or documentation.

July 29, 2026Open Access

When You Inherit a System With No Source Code and No Documentation — A Practical Playbook for Keeping It Running (archived 2026-07-27)

Key Points

The aim is to provide a structured approach to maintaining a business system without source code or documentation.
Details the process of preserving and backing up the running environment.
Includes inventorying executables and databases.
Discusses recovering specifications based on observed behavior.
Presents strategies like life support, wrapping, and rebuilding to ensure operational continuity.
Emphasizes the importance of thorough inventory management for effective maintenance.
Highlights best practices for system recovery in the absence of documentation.

Abstract

A practical playbook for starting operations and maintenance on a business system that has no source code and no specifications. Covers preserving and backing up the running environment, taking inventory of executables and databases, recovering specifications from observed behavior, and deciding between life support, wrapping, and rebuilding. Archived version of https://comcomponent.com/en/blog/no-source-no-docs-system-maintenance/, as published on 2026-07-27. The live article is maintained and may change after this date. First published 2026-07-17.

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