Benefits of Qualifiable Tools

Tools for DO-178B/ED-12B certification can be categorized as either (1) development tools that will produce code that will fly in the aircraft or (2) verification tools that will be used as part of the certification process to verify or check steps but will not produce code that will fly in the aircraft.

DO-178B/ED-12B states that the qualification of a tool is necessary when processes of DO-178B/ED-12B certification are eliminated, reduced, or automated. Tool qualification requires demonstrating a tool’s conformance with DO-178B/ED-12B in the same way that the developer’s end product is to be certified. Concerning the qualification of software development tools, DO-178B/ED-12B goes further to state that the development processes for such tools should satisfy the same objectives as the software development processes for airborne software. As a result, the software level assigned to the tool should be the same as the level for the airborne software that it produces.

The main advantage of using a qualified tool is that you can automate or reduce the level of effort spent on certification, and these reductions can be achieved only by using “qualifiable” development tools.  Using non-qualifiable tools will not reduce the effort of final certification because you will be forced to undertake all of the documentation and testing as if no tool had been used, a process that is both time consuming and costly. 

 
The benefits of working with VAPS QCG

• Rapid prototyping with VAPS allows you to easily model graphics and generate executables.
• Iterate HMI designs with ease as you send multiple HMIs and revisions to suppliers.
  
• Reduces the complexity of code generation.
• Automation means fewer specialized skills.
• Create once and then reuse VAPS QCG to port across multiple HMIs.