Why Some Programs Crash Frequently

While you are in the middle of important work the program may freeze or close out of nowhere.

But why is it that some programs crash more often than others? It is easy to point the finger at the computer but in reality the issues are more complex. Crashes may be a result of the program’s development, how it works with your system, or even in the way you use it. In this article we will look at the main causes of the frequent program crashes which will in turn give you a better picture of what is really happening under the hood.

1. Poor quality code which is unstable.

In the heart of every software program is its code, which the computer is given instructions. If the code is not well put together or has errors, the program will easily break down. At times developers rush into release of software before full testing which in turn causes bugs to pass through. These bugs may not present themselves at release but under certain conditions they can cause a crash.

For instance, when a program attempts to use memory it doesn’t have access to the OS will stop it which in turn prevents larger issues. Also the more complex a program is the greater the chance we see errors in the code play out while the program is used every day. This is the reason large complex software like video editing or game programs tend to crash more often than smaller more simple programs.

2. Out of resources in the system.

For each program you run they draw from your device’s resources which include memory (RAM) and processing power (CPU) and storage space. If your system runs out of these resources programs may freeze or crash.

For example we see that a web browser with 10+ tabs open can use up large amounts of memory. If at the same time you try to run a resource intensive application your system may have difficulty keeping up. This resource issue ends up in the operating system’s shut down of one or more programs and we get the hard to avoid crash.

When storage is almost full the same issue presents itself also. Some programs which are in use at the time may put out temporary files which in turn will not save when there is not enough space which in turn causes the program to fail. Also the more in depth the software is the more it tends to crash if it is asked to do more than it has resources for.

3. Issues with Other Software.

In a vacuum programs do not exist. In your computer at the same time many different applications are running. At times these programs have issues between them. One application may try to use the same files, libraries, or resources as another which in turn causes unexpected problems.

In some cases we see that two background processes from different programs cancel each other out. Also it is known that security software applies a form of control which it may apply to other applications. If a program is put under too much scrutiny or restriction by this security software it may crash which in turn may not be the program’s fault.

This is also a large issue with add-ons and extensions. We see that when third party components are added to a software program it brings in more features, at the same time this does increase the issue of incompatibility, which in turn also has a high chance of causing crashes.

4. Legacy Software Versions.

Technology is in a state of constant change, hence we see very frequent updates to software. Developers are putting out patches and updates which do not only include new features but also issues that cause instability. If you are using an old version of a program, you may find it crashes more.

Older programs may not support the latest operating systems, hardware drivers, or other updated applications. Anything that is out of date can also cause performance problems and frequent crashes. Software updates are usually the easy way out for that issue.

5. Hardware Interoperability Issues.

Software is to work in tandem with hardware but at the same time the two do not always play nice. At times what a program asks for is more than what your hardware can give and also may not be optimized for your particular system. For example some programs have great use of graphics cards. If the graphics card driver is out of date or is not compatible the program may repeatedly crash while doing heavy tasks like video rendering or playing 3D games.

In some cases of what may be thought of as small scale hardware incompatibilities—for example an out of date sound card driver or a bad memory stick—programs may fail. Also at times the issue is not with the program at all but with the interface between the program and your devices’ components.

6. System Instability in Operating Procedures.

The operating system is the base on which all programs run. Should the operating system have issues then the programs which run on top of it are more likely to crash. Corrupt system files, incomplete updates, or misconfigured settings create an unstable environment in which programs do not function properly.

At times the program may crash even if it is coded right due to the OS not handling requests well enough. That is why it is very important to keep your OS stable and well maintained to prevent frequent software breakdowns.

7. Malicious software and Security issues.

Another common issue that goes unreported is malware. Malicious software which gets into systems, changes files around, and ties up normal functions. As malware interferes with program performance the end result is unstable operation and sudden crashes.

Without the presence of actual malware at all times very similar issues may arise. For instance it has happened that security programs which are very strict have flagged a routine action of a program as suspicious which in turn causes the program to shut down certain functions. This in turn can cause the program to become unstable which in some cases leads to a crash.

8. Great Degree of Complexity.

Today’s software is full of features, but what we trade for that is increased complexity. We see that each new feature adds to the code base which in turn increases the chance of hidden defects. Software that is a jack of all trades and master of none is also more at risk of failure.

Between a simple notepad app and a full featured office suite note that the former does better in terms of performance, the latter however has a lot more functionality but also many more processes at play which may fail at times. That which goes after a large set of features often ends up with a bulkier, less stable product as compared to their simpler counterparts.

9. User Action and Abuse.

At times we can’t blame the program for the crashes. User action plays a role. Running many resource intensive applications at the same time, which overloads the program, asking it to do what it didn’t design for, or not updating to the latest versions can cause instability.

Also it has been seen that a program runs into issues when forced e.g. running modern software on very old hardware. In such cases the software is used beyond what was intended which in turn causes it to break down more often.

10. Lack of adequate testing before release.

We do not always see in depth testing of some programs before they are released. Small time developers and projects on a deadline may ignore in depth quality analysis at which point bugs slip into the release version. What we find is that programs which don’t go through the wringer tend to crash more often as they are not fine tuned through real life use.

Well proven applications go through many cycles of feedback and improvement which in turn reduces the chance of them frequently crashing. Also we see that software is pushed out to the public too soon often has issues with stability because it just wasn’t prepared for large scale use.

Conclusion

Frequent program crashes are not usually attributed to a single cause. Instead what we see is a confluence of issues which include poor code quality, low resource allocation, hardware incompatibilities and out of date software. Although at times very frustrating to deal with, it is helpful to understand what causes them.

Stable software is a result of careful design, proper testing, regular updates and the right environment. Also users have a part to play in maintaining their systems, in avoiding misuse and at times in providing the right resources for the programs they run.

At the time of an unexpected program crash it is also true that it doesn’t always mean your computer is at fault. Instead what we see is the result of the complex interaction between software, hardware and user action which has gone askew. By being aware of these causes you are able to identify trends and in many cases prevent the crashes from happening in the first place.