Impact of DO-178C on Software Tool Qualification: DO-330 Explored

Software tools are used throughout the life cycle of airborne software. This paper elaborates impact of DO-178C and supplement DO-330 “Software Tool Qualification Considerations” on tool qualification processes as defined in DO-178B. As per DO-178B guidance, software tools are categorized as development tools or verification tools. Software tool qualification process is varied based on this classification. The tool qualification process defined in DO-330 is domain independent. This supplement provides additional guidance, which may be used in qualifying software tools for airborne software, ground-based software, complex electronics hardware, or for other domains. This paper includes discussion on activities and data items associated with tool qualification criteria and corresponding Tool Qualification Levels (TQLs) defined in DO-330. Qualification of Commercial Of-The-Shelf (COTS) tools and in-house developed tools is explained. This paper presents a case study of in-house developed Automated Test Equipment (ATE) tool qualifications process followed as per DO-178B guidance. Impact of DO-178C supplement DO-330 on the ATE tool qualification is studied by comparing with process followed for qualification using DO-178B. The reuse of previously qualified tool to demonstrate compliance with TQL requirements through change impact analysis is also explored.