Standards-software reliability handbook: achieving reliable software

The results to date of a three-year research effort on software reliability engineering sponsored by the American Institute of Astronautics and Aeronautics (AIAA) are discussed. After a standard for recommended practice for software reliability estimation was approved by the AIAA, a blue-ribbon panel of industry experts was convened to consider the future of reliable software and software technology in space systems. The panel´s work towards a software reliability engineering database and research in software reliability tools and software reliability models are discussed. The software reliability recommended practice, its intended audience, and its users are reviewed.<>