Automating Software Tool Qualification for Design and Test of Safety-Critical Systems

Abstract:
We discuss problem of development of safety-critical systems and the level of trust that can be assigned to the testing and design tools. Safety standards, in particular ISO 26262, require qualification of software development and testing tools for development of the "Item". However, this qualification is a very time-consuming process with unclear guidelines, not always affordable and not always correct. In case the tool is eventually qualified, any changes in the tool have to be analyzed with the impact analysis on the subject of violation of safety goals. In case of potential violations, the tool has to be re-qualified with a potentially great effort. Thus, designers and testers are often given a choice either continue with the old "buggy" version of the tool or perform time-consuming re-qualification. This may often lead to the "buggy" and ineffective tool versions used for too long. In our approach, we want to shift responsibility for the tool qualification on the tool supplier, providing automated method for re-qualification to the manufacturer. Thus, manufacturer will save time and money and the tool suppliers can introduce new tools and tool versions.