Citation

Daniels BK. Reliab. Eng. 1983; 4(4): 199-234.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1983, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0143-8174(83)90033-1

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The reliability of computer software has been causing concern for at least 15 years. The achievement of accurate software has been the goal of many workers, who identified the design process as the main source of software faults. This has led to the development of a number of design methodologies which aim to reduce the propagation of design phase errors.

The measurement of software reliability has also received considerable attention. A number of stochastic models have been developed and tested against observed software system failure data. A small number of models are being used to monitor the reliability performance of software systems as they progress through the various phases of the software life cycle.

This paper reviews reliability analysis techniques developed for hardware dominated systems. The inputs to a software reliability analysis are considered and progress in developing a methodology to assess computer system software is described.