Clearing the Path for Software Sustainability

Abstract: The advancement of software sustainability encounters notable challenges, underscoring the necessity for understanding these challenges to facilitate significant progress and pave the way for effective solutions to advance software sustainability. This paper outlines key challenges identified in literature based on findings from a tertiary study. Challenges identified include: confusion regarding the definition of software sustainability, uncertainty about when to consider sustainability in software development, lack of assessment metrics and tools, narrow perspectives on sustainability in software systems, insufficient awareness and education, and a lack of serious considerations in practice. The paper aims at clarifying the confusion surrounding software sustainability to motivate effective solutions. The provided recommendations aim to give a more organized approach towards advancing sustainable software development, emphasizing comprehensive strategies, the integration of sustainability as a fundamental aspect of software development, actionable research directions, and the cultivation of a common understanding of sustainable software.