Standards and practices for reliable safety-related software systems

Safety and reliability are of increasing concern as mechanical systems are replaced or upgraded with computer-based software technology as we move into the 21st century. The article is the result of an evaluation of domestic and international, industry and government accepted practices and standards relating to software safety and reliability. Standards were evaluated for similarities and variance. There are three areas of interest when discussing the development of safety-related software systems. These are the quality enhancing development processes, safety analysis techniques, and measurement techniques for assessing reliability or safety