Live Patching
Live patching is a software maintenance technique that applies security patches or bug fixes to a running system without requiring a reboot or downtime. It allows updates to be installed while the system remains operational, typically by modifying code in memory while preserving application state. This is commonly used in critical systems like servers, embedded devices, or real-time applications where uptime is essential.
Developers should learn and use live patching in scenarios where system availability is critical, such as in production servers, financial systems, or IoT devices that cannot tolerate downtime. It is particularly valuable for applying urgent security patches to mitigate vulnerabilities without disrupting services, reducing maintenance windows and improving reliability. This technique is essential in DevOps and SRE roles for maintaining high-availability infrastructure.