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There are several reasons why software programs fail, and some basic best practices can be employed to minimize the likelihood of that happening. They include the following:

• Implementing load balancing. 
  As the number of website users increase and they log on to add their personal data, a crash can impact other features, like access to the bank they hope to draw from when they check out. Think “Black Friday” and what happened when websites were not equipped to handle shopper traffic. On an e-commerce website when the number of users increases sharply to take advantage of an online offer that could potentially cause a crash, that can impact other features, like access to the payment page when they check out. Avoid a single point of failure by load balancing system traffic across multiple server locations.

• Applying program scaling. 
  This is the ability of a program’s application nodes to automatically adjust and ramp up to handle increased traffic via machine learning, as it analyzes the metrics on a real time basis. Scheduled scaling can be employed during forecasted peak hours or for special sale events, such as Amazon Prime Day. At off-peak hours, those nodes then can be scaled down. Dynamic scaling involves software changes based on metrics including CPU utilization and memory. Predictive scaling entails understanding current and forecasted future needs, utilizing machine learning modules and system monitoring.

• Using continuous load and stress testing to ensure reliability of the code. 
  Build a software program with a high degree of availability in mind, accessible every day of the year with a miniscule period of downtime. Even one hour offline a year can be costly. Employ chaos engineering during the development and beta testing stage, introducing worst-case scenarios when it comes to the load on a system. Then write a program to overcome those issues without resorting to downtime.

• Developing a backup plan and program for redundancy. 
  It’s crucial to be able to replicate and recover data in the event of a crash. Instill this type of business ethic within the corporate structure.

• Monitoring a system’s performance using metrics and observation.
  Note any variance from the norm and take immediate action where needed. A word of caution: the most common reason for software failure is the introduction of a change to the operating system in production.

One Step at a Time

The first step in developing a software program is choosing the right type of architecture. Using the wrong type can lead to costly downtime and can discourage end users from returning for a second visit if other sites or apps offer the same products and services.

The second step is to incorporate key features including the ability to scale as demand on the program peaks (perhaps a popular retail site having a sale), redundancy that allows a backup component to takeover in case of a failure, and the need for continuous system testing.

The final step is to establish standards of high availability and high expectations where downtime is not an option. Following these steps creates a template to design better system applications that are reliable in all but the rarest of circumstances.

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You can read more about Best Practices for Avoiding Software Failures here.

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