IEEE 1633 is a recommended standard regarding the methods for assessing and predicting the reliability of software, based on a life-cycle approach to software reliability engineering (SRE).
IEEE stands for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. This is the largest technical professional organization in the world for the advancement of technology.
The IEEE standard provides information necessary for the application of software reliability (SR) measurement to a project, lays a foundation for building consistent methods, and establishes the basic principle for collecting the data needed to assess and predict the reliability of software.
The recommended practice prescribes how any user can participate in SR assessments and predictions.
The IEEE 1633 standard is rather involved, however, one very important part focuses on how each software reliability program should precisely define the conditions under which the software will operate as well as what constitutes an “unreliable” event (software failure).
These definitions are necessary for ensuring process consistency and fostering a common understanding among the vendors, contracting officers, and acquisition program personnel.
Consequently, products and deliverables should be using these terms in a manner consistent with the formal program definitions. For example, guidance in both DoD and DHS calls for Test and Evaluation Master Plans (TEMPs) to include failure definitions and scoring criteria.
IEEE 1633 also defines the software reliability engineering (SRE) processes, prediction models, growth models, tools, and practices of an organization. This document and its models and tools are useful to any development organization to identify the methods, equations, and criteria for quantitatively assessing the reliability of a software or firmware subsystem or product.
Organizations that acquire software subsystems or products developed with consideration to this recommended practice will benefit by knowing the reliability of the software before acquisition.
The IEEE 1633 standard does not seek to certify either the software or firmware or the processes employed for developing the software or firmware.
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IEEE 1633 Software Reliability Engineering (SRE) Training Course covers the key features of Recommended Practices for software reliability.
This course is recommended for
- Software engineers and managers to enhance their knowledge and skills in methods to predict software reliability
- Reliability engineers new to software development
- Project managers involved in software releases and maintenance
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