1. This standard contains requirements for the development of
Mission-Critical Computer System Software. It establishes a uniform software
development process which is applicable throughout the system life cycle. The
software development process defines development activities which result in:
(1) the generation of different types and levels of software and
documentation, (2) the application of development tools, approaches, and
methods, and (3) project planning and control. It incorporates practices which
have been demonstrated to be cost-effective from a life cycle perspective,
based on information gathered by the Department of Defense (DOD) and
industry.
2. This standard is intended to be dynamic and responsive to the
rapidly evolving software technology field. As such, this standard should be
selectively applied and tailored to fit the unique characteristics of each
software acquisition program. To ensure that the requirements in this standard
are appropriate and responsive to software acquisition needs, users of this
standard are encouraged to provide feedback to the Preparing Activity. User
experience in terms of benefits, pitfalls, and any other useful information
encountered in applying this standard will be most helpful.
3. Data Item Descriptions (DIDs) applicable to this standard are
listed in Section 6. When used in
conjunction with this standard, these DIDs provide a set of concise and
complete documents for recording and communicating information generated as a
result of adherence to the requirements specified
herein.
