Fundamentals of Dependable Computing for Software Engineers

This book helps software and computer engineers construct software systems that are dependable and within budget and time constraints. Covering the conceptual and definitional structure of the subject, the author describes the computing platforms upon which critical applications operate and how these platforms affect software. He discusses the difficulties in software engineering that lead to software failures and presents rigorous techniques that can greatly improve the quality of software and are becoming available for even large software systems.

Fundamentals of Dependable Computing for Software Engineers presents the essential elements of computer system dependability. The book describes a comprehensive dependability-engineering process and explains the roles of software and software engineers in computer system dependability.

Readers will learn:

• Why dependability matters
• What it means for a system to be dependable
• How to build a dependable software system
• How to assess whether a software system is adequately dependable

The author focuses on the actions needed to reduce the rate of failure to an acceptable level, covering material essential for engineers developing systems with extreme consequences of failure, such as safety-critical systems, security-critical systems, and critical infrastructure systems. The text explores the systems engineering aspects of dependability and provides a framework for engineers to reason and make decisions about software and its dependability. It also offers a comprehensive approach to achieve software dependability and includes a bibliography of the most relevant literature.

Emphasizing the software engineering elements of dependability, this book helps software and computer engineers in fields requiring ultra-high levels of dependability, such as avionics, medical devices, automotive electronics, weapon systems, and advanced information systems, construct software systems that are dependable and within budget and time constraints.