What is do-178b?

DO-178B, officially titled "Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification," is a software standard published by RTCA, Inc. It is a set of guidelines and requirements for the development of software in airborne systems, particularly those used in commercial and military aircraft.

DO-178B outlines the process for developing software that meets the safety, reliability, and efficiency requirements necessary for certification by aviation authorities such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The standard defines five levels of software criticality (from Level A to Level E) based on the potential consequences of software failures, with Level A being the most critical.

The DO-178B standard includes requirements for software planning, development, verification, configuration management, and certification. It also emphasizes the importance of thorough testing and documentation throughout the software development lifecycle.

Compliance with DO-178B is typically required for the certification of airborne software systems, ensuring that they meet the highest safety and reliability standards. The latest version of this standard is DO-178C, which was released in 2011 and incorporates updates and improvements based on feedback from industry users.