System and method for detecting software patch dependencies

A computer program product for detecting software patch dependencies, residing on a computer readable medium, having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• receiving one or more first lists of software code segments that include changes to the software code segments associated with one or more first software patches;
• receiving a second list of software code segments that includes software code paths executed at run-time by a second software patch;
• identifying one or more matching software code segments that are included in at least one of the first lists and the second list, where the matching software code segments include changes associated with the one or more first software patches and software code paths executed at run-time by the second software patch;
• identifying one or more dependencies of the second software patch based on the one or more matching software code segments, where the one or more dependencies represent one or more of the first software patches required by the second software patch;
• and
• generating a list of the one or more first software patches required by the second software patch.

A computing system comprising:

• at least one processor;
• at least one memory architecture coupled with the at least one processor;
• a first software instruction set executed on the at least one processor and the at least one memory architecture configured to receive one or more first lists of software code segments that include changes to the software code segments associated with one or more first software patches;
• a second software instruction set executed on the at least one processor and the at least one memory architecture configured to receive a second list of software code segments that includes software code paths executed at run-time by a second software patch;
• a third software instruction set executed on the at least one processor and the at least one memory architecture configured to identify one or more matching software code segments that are included in at least one of the first lists and the second list, where the matching software code segments include changes associated with the one or more first software patches and software code paths executed at run-time by the second software patch;
• a fourth software instruction set executed on the at least one processor and the at least one memory architecture configured to identify one or more dependencies of the second software patch based on the one or more matching software code segments, where the one or more dependencies represent one or more of the first software patches required by the second software patch;
• and
• a fifth software instruction set executed on the at least one processor and the at least one memory architecture configured to generate a list of the one or more first software patches required by the second software patch.