Software standards for high integrity systems

Standards for high integrity systems play an important part in achieving dependable systems, both by enshrining established good practice and by influencing technological change. The author looks at the issues that have to be addressed in drafting a standard that incorporates the use of techniques such as formal methods, in order to take maximum advantage of advances in software engineering while remaining implementable. Activities in the production of safe software, the impact of new technologies and the selection of methods and languages, are also discussed