Study Guide

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Software Reliability

Software Reliability is the application of statistical techniques to data collected during system development and operation to specify, predict, estimate, and assess the reliability of software-based systems.

In short, Software Reliability is the measurable extent to which a software system, application, or procedure is able to perform its required functions under stated conditions for a specified period of time. To learn more, check out the following.

• Reliability and Failure - Chris Greenhalgh, Communications Research Group
•   Software Reliability - Data and Analysis Center for Software (DACS)
•   Software Reliability Tutorial - Dick Hamlet, Portland State University

Case Studies

What happens when software-based systems prove not to be as reliable as expected? To learn more, check out the following case studies.

• Pentium Processor Flaw
  • Pentium Flaw - The Risks Digest
  • Pentium Processor Invalid Instruction Erratum - Intel

• Internet Software Flaws
  • WWW Browser Security & Privacy Flaws - Ed Kubaitis
  • IE flaw permits Java mischief - C|Net
  • Douglas Hayward, TechWeb - Nathan Wilcox, CheckBits
  • AOL Browser Security Flaw - DGLInfo

• Mars Pathfinder Software Flaw
  • What really happened on Mars ? - Glenn Reeves

• Windows NT and the Navy's Smart Ships
  • Sunk by Windows NT - Michael Stutz, Wired

• Other Incidents
  • Kids' Software is Cursed by a Bug - Wall Street Journal
  • Software glitch slows New York air traffic - Patrick Thibodeau, ComputerWorld
  • Lotus Lawsuit - The Risks Digest

Index of Topics - Study Guide