Qualitative and Quantitative Reliability Assessment

Karama Kanoun, Mohamed Kaâniche, Jean-Claude Laprie

 

Abstract

During the development of a software system, the supplier must efficiently monitor the development activities; comply with the delivery schedule; predict when a specified level of reliability will be reached, or at least check how well the software will satisfy the customer's requirements; and reduce maintenance efforts. On the other hand, the customer needs a reliable product, delivered on time and at the lowest price. Our method helps reach these goals. It is based on the analysis and evaluation of software reliability by processing failure data collected on a software product during its development and operation. Traditionally, system reliability efforts have not focused on software reliability. We believe that failure prediction can be improved if software reliability modeling is integrated into an overall approach. The method we propose is based on the combined use of descriptive analyses, trend analyses, and reliability models to control testing activities, evaluate software reliability, and plan maintenance

Keywords: software reliability; reliability growth, trend test, data collection, reliability models