Independence in Software Verification
Section 08: Software Certification (DO-178C)
Definition
The requirement that certain verification activities be performed by persons who are not the developers of the item being verified. Independence in DO-178C means separation of the verification function from the development function such that the verifier has no vested interest in the outcome and can provide an objective assessment. The degree of independence required increases with software level: at Level A, many verification objectives require independence (the person verifying an output must not be the same person who produced it); at Level D, fewer independence requirements apply. Independence can be provided by another engineer, a separate team, or an independent organization.
Where This Shows Up
Independence is a fundamental quality principle in software certification. Self-verification — where the developer verifies their own work — has an inherent conflict of interest and is less likely to find errors. DO-178C's independence requirements ensure that a fresh set of eyes reviews requirements, design, code, and test results. The specific objectives requiring independence are identified by the 'Independence' column in DO-178C Tables A-1 through A-10. Independence applies to reviews, analyses, and test case development but not necessarily to test execution.
Primary Sources
Defines independence requirements for verification activities at each software level.
Related Terms
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