DO-178 "Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification" is a standard published by RTCA (Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics) that provides guidelines for organizations developing safety-critical certifiable software for airborne systems to guaranteed their safe operation under all foreseeable conditions.
DO-178 is the primary document standard by which the certification authorities such as FAA, EASA and Transport Canada approve all commercial software-based aerospace systems. All governments and agencies around the world have adopted these standards for commercial aviation.
"RTCA (Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics) is a membership organization encompassing companies and governments across the globe representing all facets of the air transportation industry."