Self-Directed Research Traceability
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Jul 9, 2025 Discover the pivotal role of software traceability, especially in safety-critical development. The conversation dives into the need for better tools, aiming for open-source solutions that enhance documentation and accountability. Hear about the unique challenges in the Rust ecosystem and how proper annotations can transform project coherence. The dialogue also amusingly tackles the necessity for fresh terminology around traceability, all while reflecting on the importance of improving documentation practices for better software outcomes.
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Traceability Ensures Software Accountability
- Traceability links requirements, code, and tests to ensure everything is accounted for and justified.
- In safety critical software, all code like a Pac-Man game must have associated requirements and tests or it shouldn't exist.
Benefits of Linked Traceability
- Linking docs, code, and tests lets you review related artifacts when code changes.
- This reveals outdated docs or missing tests and prevents unnoticed breakages.
Requirements-Based Testing in Safety
- Safety critical software uses requirements-based testing, where each test maps to a specific requirement.
- This forces thorough documentation and coverage of edge cases beyond generic code coverage.