Software is the primary determinant of function in many modern engineered systems, from domestic goods (such as washing machines) through mass-market products (such as cars) to civil aircraft and nuclear power plant. In a growing number of cases, the software is safety critical or safety related, i.e. failure or malfunction could give rise to, or contribute to, a fatal accident. In general, where software is a key element of a safety critical system, it is developed in accordance with a set of guidelines or standards produced by the industry, or imposed by a regulator.
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