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On Software Certification: We Need Product-Focused Approaches

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Foundations of Computer Software. Future Trends and Techniques for Development (Monterey Workshop 2008)

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Abstract

In this paper we begin by examining the “certification” of a consumer product, a baby walker, that is product-focused, i.e., the certification process requires the performance of precisely defined tests on the product with measurable outcomes. We then review current practices in software certification and contrast the software regime’s process-oriented approach to certification with the product-oriented approach typically used in other engineering disciplines. We make the case that product-focused certification is required to produce reliable software intensive systems. These techniques will have to be domain and even product specific to succeed.

Supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

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Wassyng, A., Maibaum, T., Lawford, M. (2010). On Software Certification: We Need Product-Focused Approaches. In: Choppy, C., Sokolsky, O. (eds) Foundations of Computer Software. Future Trends and Techniques for Development. Monterey Workshop 2008. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 6028. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12566-9_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12566-9_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-12565-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-12566-9

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