NASA Software Safety Guidebook

This guidebook was created to provide specific information and guidance on the process of creating and assuring safe software. In our modern world, software controls much of the hardware (equipment, electronics, and instruments) around us. Sometimes hardware failure can lead to a loss of human life. When software controls, operates, or interacts with such hardware, software safety becomes a vital concern
The audience for this guidebook is diverse. Software developers and software safety engineers are the primary focus. Software assurance (QA) engineers, project managers, system engineers, and system safety engineers will also find this guidebook useful. Section 1.5 of the Introduction provides guidance on sections of particular interest to the various disciplines.
This guidebook is meant to be more than just a collection of development techniques and analyses. The goal is to open the reader to new ways of thinking about software from a safety perspective. This guidebook points out things to look for (and look out for) in the development of safety-critical software. The guidebook includes development approaches, safety analyses, and testing methodologies that lead to improved safety in the software product.
While the focus of this guidebook is on the development of software for safety-critical systems, much of the information and guidance is also appropriate to the creation of mission- critical software.