Software maintenance includes fixing defects, applying security updates, adapting to changed dependencies or platforms, monitoring operation, updating documentation, and revising behavior as user needs evolve.
Personal software still needs an owner and lifecycle plan. A small system can minimize maintenance by choosing the simplest suitable architecture, limiting dependencies, preserving backups, and defining how it will be updated or retired.
ELI5
Software maintenance is the work required after an application is first built. It keeps the software safe and useful as bugs appear, platforms change, dependencies update, and the user's needs evolve.
For example, a personal background service may need security patches and a fix when an operating-system update changes file access. Choosing a smaller design can reduce that ongoing burden, but it does not remove it.
