Ebook: Testing Safety-Related Software: A Practical Handbook

As software is very complex, we can only test a limited range of the possible states of the software in a reasonable time frame. In 1972, Dijkstra [1] claimed that 'program testing can be used to show the pres­ ence of bugs, but never their absence' to persuade us that a testing approach alone is not acceptable. This frequently quoted statement represented our knowledge about software testing at that time, and after over 25 years intensive practice, experiment and research, although software testing has been developed into a validation and ver­ ification technique indispensable to software engineering discipline, Dijkstra's state­ ment is still valid. To gain confidence in the safety of software based systems we must therefore assess both the product and the process of its development. Testing is one of the main ways of assessing the product, but it must be seen, together with process assessment, in the context of an overall safety case. This book provides guidance on how to make best use of the limited resources available for testing and to maximise the contribution that testing of the product makes to the safety case. 1.1 Context The safety assurance of software based systems is a complex task as most fail­ ures stem from design errors committed by humans. To provide safety assur­ on the integrity of the system and put ance, evidence needs to be gathered forward as an argued case (the safety case) that the system is adequately safe.

---

This volume is based on the experiences of 8 industrial and 1 academic partner, from fields as diverse as oil and gas production, transportation, aerospace, nuclear power and defence. Together they have carried out an in-depth examination of the issues involved in demonstrating through testing that acceptable safety integrity levels can be achieved. The results of this extensive exercise have been condensed into a practical handbook which highlights in an easily assimilated and structured form the essential principles and current techniques for testing safety-related software. Up-to-date, comprehensive and accessible, it is the first volume to give detailed attention to testing issues for safety-related software and - as such - will be an invaluable resource for the practitioner.

---

This volume is based on the experiences of 8 industrial and 1 academic partner, from fields as diverse as oil and gas production, transportation, aerospace, nuclear power and defence. Together they have carried out an in-depth examination of the issues involved in demonstrating through testing that acceptable safety integrity levels can be achieved. The results of this extensive exercise have been condensed into a practical handbook which highlights in an easily assimilated and structured form the essential principles and current techniques for testing safety-related software. Up-to-date, comprehensive and accessible, it is the first volume to give detailed attention to testing issues for safety-related software and - as such - will be an invaluable resource for the practitioner.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-ix
Introduction....Pages 1-31
Testing and the Safety Case....Pages 33-57
Designing for Testability....Pages 59-82
Testing of Timing Aspects....Pages 83-100
The Test Environment....Pages 101-123
The Use of Simulators....Pages 125-141
Test Adequacy....Pages 143-154
Statistical Software Testing....Pages 155-170
Empirical Quantifiable Measures of Testing....Pages 171-194
Back Matter....Pages 195-226

---

This volume is based on the experiences of 8 industrial and 1 academic partner, from fields as diverse as oil and gas production, transportation, aerospace, nuclear power and defence. Together they have carried out an in-depth examination of the issues involved in demonstrating through testing that acceptable safety integrity levels can be achieved. The results of this extensive exercise have been condensed into a practical handbook which highlights in an easily assimilated and structured form the essential principles and current techniques for testing safety-related software. Up-to-date, comprehensive and accessible, it is the first volume to give detailed attention to testing issues for safety-related software and - as such - will be an invaluable resource for the practitioner.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-ix
Introduction....Pages 1-31
Testing and the Safety Case....Pages 33-57
Designing for Testability....Pages 59-82
Testing of Timing Aspects....Pages 83-100
The Test Environment....Pages 101-123
The Use of Simulators....Pages 125-141
Test Adequacy....Pages 143-154
Statistical Software Testing....Pages 155-170
Empirical Quantifiable Measures of Testing....Pages 171-194
Back Matter....Pages 195-226
....