DO-178, also known as “Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification,” is a standard that defines the guidelines for software development in the aviation industry. It is a standard that ensures the safety of software used in avionics systems.
The DO-178 standard provides guidance on the software development process, including requirements, design, coding, verification, and validation. It outlines the different levels of software development, each with increasing rigor, and the corresponding levels of verification and validation required for each level.
DO-178 is required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the certification of all software used in airborne systems and equipment. The standard provides guidance for the development and certification of software for a wide range of avionics systems, including flight control systems, communication systems, navigation systems, and more.
The DO-178 standard is designed to ensure that software used in aviation meets the highest levels of safety and reliability. It requires a rigorous process for software development and testing, including formal verification and validation processes, code reviews, and testing.
The DO-178 standard is divided into five levels of software criticality, ranging from Level A for the highest level of criticality to Level E for the lowest level of criticality. Each level has specific requirements for software development and testing, with higher levels requiring more rigorous processes and more extensive testing.
In summary, DO-178 is a standard that defines the guidelines for software development in the aviation industry. It provides guidance for the development and certification of software used in airborne systems and equipment, ensuring the highest levels of safety and reliability. The standard requires a rigorous process for software development and testing, including formal verification and validation processes, code reviews, and testing.