SOFTWARE PRODUCTS

VectorCAST

The VectorCAST embedded software testing platform is a family of products that automates testing activities across the software development lifecycle. VectorCAST Supports DO-178/ED-12, DO-330, ISO 26262, IEC 61508, FDA, IEC 62304, CENELEC test requirements, and is Certified by TÜV SÜD for IEC 61508-3:2010, IEC 62304:2015, ISO 26262-8:2018, EN 50128:2011 and EN 50128:2017. The VectorCAST family of tools supports the creation and management of test cases to prove that the low-level software requirements have been tested and is also useful for a variety of robustness testing activities such as range and out of bounds testing.

VectorCAST Advantage

  • Focus on Embedded Systems
  • Enable Continuous and Collaborative Testing
  • Provide the most Automated Tools possible
  • Works with your existing software development tools

VectorCAST Application Area

Aerospace

One of the key requirements in the software verification process of DO-178C and ED-12C is achieving structural code coverage in conjunction with the testing of the high-level and low-level software requirements. VectorCAST tools support the capture and reporting of structural code coverage data at all levels prescribed by DO-178C and ED-12C including Level A.

 

Highlights:

  • Supports all levels of code coverage required by DO-178C; ED-12C
  • Automatic generation and compilation of complete test stubs and driver programs
  • Automatic regression testing
  • Compliant test report generation
  • Test execution on host, simulator, and embedded target system

Automotive

The International Organization for Standardization document 26262 (ISO 26262) provides a process framework and a procedural model for the development and test of safety critical electronic systems in motor vehicles. VectorCAST tools support the capture and reporting of structural code coverage at all levels required by ISO 26262.

 

Highlights:

  • Supports all levels of code coverage required by ISO 26262, such as Statement, Branch, MCDC
  • Automatic generation and compilation of complete test stubs and driver programs for unit and integration testing
  • Automatic regression testing
  • Requirement to test case mapping
  • Robustness Testing
  • Out of bounds values
  • Boundary condition testing
  • Test execution on host, simulator, and embedded target systems

Industrial

IEC 61508 is the international industry standard governing functional safety of programmable electronic systems. IEC 61508 certification confirms that a product or system complies with objectives set by the standard. VectorCAST tools support the capture and reporting of structural code coverage at all levels required by IEC 61508.

 

Highlights:

  • Supports all levels of code coverage required by IEC 61508, such as Statement, Branch, MCDC
  • Automatic generation and compilation of complete test stubs and driver programs for unit and integration testing
  • Automatic regression testing
  • Requirement to test case mapping
  • Robustness Testing
  • Out of bounds values
  • Boundary condition testing
  • Test execution on host, simulator, and embedded target systems

Medical

The International Electrotechnical Commission created the IEC 62304 standard. The standard, formulated to govern the requirements for medical software, describes the process that medical software must go through to be approved for use in Europe. The standard includes guidelines for testing any software components that are part of a medical device. VectorCAST tools support the capture and reporting of structural code coverage at all levels recommended by IEC 62304.

 

Highlights:

  • Supports all levels of code coverage required by IEC 62304, such as Statement, Branch, MCDC
  • Automatic generation and compilation of complete test stubs and driver programs for unit and integration testing
  • Automatic regression testing
  • Requirement to test case mapping
  • Robustness Testing
  • Out of bounds values
  • Boundary condition testing
  • Test execution on host, simulator, and embedded target systems

Railway

The European Standards EN 50128:2011 and EN 50657:2017 provide a process framework and a procedural model for the development and test of safety critical electronic systems in railway systems. VectorCAST tools support the capture and reporting of structural code coverage at all levels required by EN 50128 and EN 50657.

 

Highlights:

  • Supports all levels of code coverage required by EN 51208 and EN 50657, such as Statement, Branch, MCDC
  • Automatic generation and compilation of complete test stubs and driver programs for unit and integration testing
  • Automatic regression testing
  • Requirement to test case mapping
  • Robustness Testing
  • Out of bounds values
  • Boundary condition testing
  • Test execution on host, simulator, and embedded target systems

VectorCAST Variants and Options

VectorCAST/C++

VectorCAST/C++ is an integrated software test solution that significantly reduces the time, effort, and cost associated with testing C and C++ software components necessary for validating safety and mission-critical embedded systems. VectorCAST/C++ helps efficiently create unit tests and integration tests for C and C++ code to ensure it works properly prior to release in less time and at a lower cost.

Advantages
  • Complete test-harness construction for unit and integration testing
  • Regression Testing
  • Test execution from GUI or scripts
  • Code coverage analysis
  • Integrations with best of breed requirements traceability tools
  • User-defined tests for requirements-based testing
  • Code complexity calculation
  • Automatic test creation based on decision paths
  • Test execution trace and playback capabilities to debug code
  • Supports Agile and Test Driven Development Methods
Highlights
  • Supports C++11, C++14 and C++17
  • Supports Host, Simulator, or Embedded Target Testing
  • Supports a Wide Range of Compilers, Simulators, and Processor Architectures
  • User Configurable Compiler Interface
  • Eliminates Need to Build Test Drivers and Stubs Manually
  • Integrated Code Coverage Capabilities, including MC/DC
  • Automates Regression Testing
  • Supports DO-178 (Avionics), ISO 26262 (Automotive), IEC 61508 (Industrial), IEC 62304 (Medical), EN 50128, and EN 50657 (Rail)
  • Supports Windows and Linux Platforms
  • Full Command Line Interface

VectorCAST/Ada

With VectorCAST/Ada, unit testing can be done natively or on your specific target or target simulator. VectorCAST’s run-time support package, VectorCAST/RSP, is the add-on module that makes executing your test cases on target hardware automatic and seamless. Additionally, tests can be developed in a host environment and re-executed on an embedded target to validate target and cross-compiler performance.

Advantages
  • Moves testing from a manual process to engineering rigor
  • Makes developer testing a streamlined and repeatable technology
  • Can be used on new or legacy applications
  • Enables attention to quality without derailing development time
  • Proven reduction in cost by automating the creation of frameworks to isolate newly developed code
  • Supports Ada 83, Ada 95, Ada 2005, and Ada 2012
Highlights
  • Complete test-harness construction for Ada unit and integration testing – no writing of test code
  • Driver and stub code built automatically
  • Test execution from GUI or scripts
  • Test execution playback to assist in debugging
  • Code-coverage analysis specific to military and avionic
  • Integrated with IBM® Rational® Rhapsody®, AdaCore GNAT, Green Hills® AdaMULTI™, Atego™ ObjectAda®, DDC-I™ SCORE®, IBM® Rational® DOORS® and other tools requirements
  • Automatic test case generation based on decision paths
  • On-target and simulator test execution
  • Code-complexity analysis highlights high risk code
  • Leverage existing tests to automate regression testing

VectorCAST/QA

VectorCAST/QA provides an integrated workflow for white-box system testing. Application internals can be monitored, and faults injected into the source code using Probe Points. It allows testers and developers to collaborate on test activities, shorten test times, and provide up to date metrics on release readiness.

Advantages
  • Code coverage metrics collected on C code, C++ code and Ada code
  • Faster testing with Change-Based Testing (CBT)
  • Tool Qualification Package for DO-178C software development
  • White-box Testing with VectorCAST Probe Points
  • Code coverage tool certified by TÜV SÜD for industrial, automotive, medical and railway applications
  • Coverage testing can be performed on the host (Windows or Linux) or on an embedded target
  • Easily configure source file instrumentation for different code coverage types
  • Uses the same compiler and build scripts you already use including Microsoft Visual Studio
  • Command Line Interface (CLI) is integrated with a Jenkins plug-in to support continuous and parallel testing with command line scripts
  • Code coverage from system or application testing can be aggregated with code coverage from unit testing
  • Code coverage reports in html or text formats
Highlights
  • Identifies correlations between tests and code
  • Integrates easily with Continuous Integration (CI) Servers to allow tests to be distributed across a farm of physical or virtual test machines
  • Allows users to easily run all flavors of test without needing to learn new tools or processes
  • Change Impact Analysis can be used to identify the impact of a set of source code changes on the quantity of testing required
  • Provides visibility into the parts of the application that each test stimulates, allowing you to gauge the value of each test and identify redundant tests
  • Automates the capture and maintenance of code coverage data during testing, which allows users to quickly identify untested portions of the application and determine resources needed to improve testing thoroughness

TESTinsights

TESTinsights extends the functionality of VectorCAST to accumulate all results of software examination and software test activities from all participants with a collaborative service. Participants analyze these result data collaboratively in web dashboards to gain insights from different points of view and levels of abstraction.

Advantages
  • Source code remains on premises
  • Provided as a Software as a Service (SaaS) making it easier to apply
  • Instead of storing source code, just a reference to a file and version can be stored
  • Minimize test effort through faster and smarter testing with distributed Change-based Testing
  • TESTinsights’ Code View (that runs on the Client PC) brings source code and all results together
Highlights
  • The TESTinsights Connector (part of the VectorCAST installation) can be used for the CI/CT use case to push result data
  • TESTinsights CI Client is a local component which can be used for the CI/CT use case to request affected tests for the change-based testing
  • In the TESTinsights Service all result data from software testing (from all test levels) can be stored
  • TESTinsights Web Client allows the detailed analysis of software examination result data regarding quality and progress
  • The SCM Connection Service is a locally installed utility component which communicates with SCM tools to request SCM info to enable the collaborative usage of the result data

VectorCAST Test Explorer

VectorCAST Test Explorer is an open-source extension for Visual Studio Code that allows you to create, edit, execute, and debug VectorCAST/C++ test cases from within VS Code.

Advantages
  • Create test environments directly from the Project Explorer view
  • Create, edit, execute, and debug tests, from the Test Explorer view
  • IntelliSense editing of test scripts
  • Built-in launch configuration for debugging tests
  • Source editors display VectorCAST code coverage
Highlights
  • Quickly access context menu, right-click on any source file(s) and seamlessly create a VectorCAST environment
  • Dive into a detailed, organized view. Every node represents specific VectorCAST elements – from test environments to individual test cases. With the context-driven menus, effortlessly set up new tests or modify existing ones
  • Benefit from auto-completions, hover-over hints, and immediate syntax error detections for VectorCAST test script files to upgrade coding experiences
  • With just a right-click, set up a VectorCAST-specific launch configuration and integrate with the Visual Studio Code Debugger effortlessly
  • Red and green gutter decorations clearly highlight the VectorCAST statement coverage, making assessments a breeze

VectorCAST/Coupling

VectorCAST/Coupling provides automated analysis and instrumentation for data coupling and control coupling verification for C and C++ source files and is used in conjunction with an existing VectorCAST/QA project or VectorCAST Cover environment.

Advantages
  • Automated coupling verification for C and C++ Source Files
  • Report generation
  • Uses existing VectorCAST Cover environments
  • Saves significant time, effort and accuracy over manual analysis
  • Verify DO-178C Requirements