Ensuring Automobile Safety and Compliance Using Open-Source Tools.
Is It Possible to Certify GoogleTest for Safety-Critical Systems?
In safety-critical environments like the automotive industry, ensuring safety and compliance in software development is paramount. Leveraging open-source unit testing tools has become a common practice but integrating them seamlessly into certified environments can pose challenges. Enter Cantata Hybrid, a revolutionary tool designed to bridge the gap between open-source testing frameworks like GoogleTest and GoogleMock and the rigorous standards required for compliance, such as ISO 26262, EN 50128, and IEC 61508.
Limitations of GoogleTest for Automotive Software Testing While GoogleTest (gtest) is a powerful tool for unit testing, it may not be the ideal choice for all aspects of automotive software testing, especially for safety-critical systems. Gtest primarily focuses on unit testing, isolating and testing individual software modules, but automotive software testing requires a broader approach encompassing integration testing, system testing, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing. Additionally, gtest has limited support for real-time testing, which is critical for automotive systems, and lacks built-in features for safety-oriented testing practices mandated by the industry, such as test case traceability and coverage analysis for safety requirements.
To address the unique challenges of automotive software testing, specialized testing tools and frameworks can play a valuable role. These solutions offer features optimized for specific testing scenarios like stress testing, HIL testing, or fuzz testing, ensuring a comprehensive test suite.
Introducing Cantata Hybrid
Cantata Hybrid, a specialized subset of the certified tool Cantata, provides a solution to seamlessly integrate open-source testing frameworks like GoogleTest and GoogleMock into a certified environment. This innovative tool acts as a certification engine, enabling developers to generate certified test results and code coverage metrics directly from their existing GoogleTest suites, without the need for any modifications.
Cantata Hybrid seamlessly integrates with GoogleTest and GoogleMock, running the open-source test suite in parallel with equivalent Cantata test directives. As the tests execute, Cantata Hybrid gathers detailed code coverage results, including metrics up to the stringent MC/DC level, and produces all the necessary certification documentation. This approach allows teams to maintain their investment in GoogleTest and GoogleMock while addressing the specific requirements of safety-critical automotive software development.
Achieving Standards Compliance with Confidence
By using Cantata Hybrid, developers can have confidence that their testing processes meet the rigorous requirements of safety standards such as ISO 26262, EN 50128, and IEC 61508. The tool’s independent certification by SGS TÜV for use at the highest safety integrity levels ensures that the testing evidence generated is suitable for regulatory compliance.
Embracing the synergy between open-source testing tools and certified solutions like Cantata Hybrid, developers can navigate the complexities of safety-critical automotive environments with confidence, ensuring both the reliability and compliance of their software products. Cantata Hybrid empowers teams to leverage the benefits of GoogleTest and GoogleMock while seamlessly achieving the necessary safety standards certification, ultimately driving innovation and quality in safety-critical software development.
To learn more about Cantata Hybrid and how it can benefit your automotive software testing needs, visit qa-systems.com/cantatahybrid or start a free trial today.
