Applying theory to practice Airworthy software measured and analysed

摘要

Software which is embedded in aircraft to which people entrust their life becomes safety-critical and consequently safety is an uncompromisable requirement. Failures of such software must be virtually non-existent. Due to the high costs of aircraft, hypothetical software failures would also incur major financial losses. To guarantee aircraft safety, an independent government agency certifies the aircraft, including its software, as fit-for-use. The world-wide-standardised avionics software certification requirements deliberately allow considerable freedom for compliant software development processes. The first two versions of the discussed application have successfully passed the certification and well over 100 units are currently being flow in numerous aircraft. In fact the software product is so successful that it will be adapted to other aircraft models. Based on product and process metrics, the software development process will be analysed, applying theory to practice. Aspects covered include requirements, code size, verification, effort, project dynamics.