VerOCode - Verify Object Code
VerOCode records the coverage analysis evidence required by DO-178B Level A: the highest level of criticality.
VerOCode is an execution trace analyzer tool that requires no special hardware. The code under test is not instrumented, as function calls are not added to record execution states. The source code under test is executed on a target computer (e.g., PowerPC, Intel) and the execution profile is captured on a host machine (PC/Windows).
VerOCode uses the captured execution profile together with the linker map and the compiler-generated listing to indicate which instructions were executed, which were not executed, and the state of the condition codes during execution of conditional instructions.
VerOCode is implemented with three components:
- Monitor: Resident on the target system, the Monitor captures the coverage data during execution.
- Analyzer: Resident on the host system, the Analzyzer performs automated coverage analysis and reports the captured data.
- Editor: A text-based Editor supports additional user annotations within the coverage report.
VerOCode:
- Shows coverage at the object code level; satisfying the DO-178B Level A objective for source coverage.
- Combines the results of all individual tests into a cumulative structural coverage report.
- Does not compromise test results, as it does not instrument the code under test.
- Records coverage data as part of requirements-based test, not as a special coverage test execution.
- Is a repeatable and automated approach to test and coverage analysis.
VerOCode operates in cross mode.
- The Monitor and test program execute on the target, which is connected to the host machine through a communications port.
- The Analyzer captures test data from the target and uploads the data to the host for analysis and reporting.
- When analysis is complete, the VerOCode Coverage Editor allows the user to manually annotate the coverage result files. The Editor allows users to document any deactivated code.