Abstract: This paper presents an optimal software release policy model under imperfect debugging, in which the software imperfect debugging, the new faults introduced during debugging as well as the situation that the probability of perfect debugging will be increased due to the experience gained in the process of software testing are taken into account. This model makes the total average cost minimized under the constraint of a given software reliability. This paper also gives the optimal software release time when the parameters take different values.

Key words: software reliability, optimal software release policy, imperfect debugging