What happens to the cost of a bug the longer it goes undetected and unfixed?

The correct understanding is that the cost of a bug typically increases the longer it remains undetected and unfixed. This phenomenon occurs due to several factors.

Initially, when a bug is discovered and fixed early in the development cycle, the resources required for addressing the issue—such as time, manpower, and money—are relatively minimal. However, as the project progresses, the implications of the bug can cascade, leading to more severe consequences. For instance, if the bug affects further developments or features, fixing it later may not only involve correcting the original issue but also addressing the impact it has had on subsequent components of the project.

Moreover, delays in detecting and resolving a bug can result in increased costs associated with maintaining customer satisfaction, reworking related areas, or even potential loss of revenue if the product is released with the defect. Therefore, as time passes without detection, the cost to resolve and remediate the bug escalates, impacting the project’s overall budget and timeline significantly.

This understanding reinforces the importance of timely detection and resolution of issues in software development and project management.