No-maintenance software must live in an environment which never changes (certain microcontroller code, and kiosk-type installations fit this definition). If you

No-maintenance software must live in an environment which never changes (certain microcontroller code, and kiosk-type installations fit this definition). If you are devloping software exposed to the "normal" world, then change is inevitable as the environment evolves around you. Maintenance is a part of life. The key is to minimize the cost of that maintenance through good architecture and robust error handling.