Software Baselines
Section 08: Software Certification (DO-178C)
Definition
A baseline is a formally established and configuration-controlled snapshot of the software lifecycle data at a specific point in the development process. DO-178C identifies several key baselines in the software lifecycle: the requirements baseline (after requirements are reviewed and approved), the design baseline (after design is reviewed and approved), the code baseline (after code is reviewed and passes testing), and the release baseline (the final configuration of the software approved for certification). Once a baseline is established, any change to its constituent configuration items must go through the formal change control process, with appropriate review, approval, and regression analysis.
Where This Shows Up
Baselines provide control points in the development process that ensure the integrity of the lifecycle data. Without baselines, changes could occur in an uncontrolled manner, making it impossible to determine the exact state of the software at any point in time. The release baseline is particularly critical: it defines exactly what was certified, and any deviation from that baseline in production or maintenance requires formal change control.
Primary Sources
Defines the baseline concept and the requirements for establishing and maintaining baselines.
Related Terms
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