Re: Mission Critical Definition and Compliance

[JP Thornley <jpt@diphi.demon.co.uk>]

In article: <34D0F22A.41C67EA6@swl.msd.ray.com>  "John J. Cupak Jr." 
<jcj@swl.msd.ray.com> writes:
> I have been asked to locate the *official* definition of "Mission
> Critical" software, together with the process for defining which
> language comply with it.
> 

I would use the term to distinguish it from safety-critical (with which 
some people confuse it).

My informal defitions are something like:-

Safety-critical code is any code whose incorrect operation creates the 
risk of an accident leading to death or serious injury.

Mission-critical code is any code whose incorrect operation places a 
mission at risk, but doesn't create any significant risk of an accident.

So if mission-critical code goes wrong then the plane has to turn back, 
but can be expected to return safely, if safety-critical code goes wrong 
then the plane might not get back at all.

HTH

Phil

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| JP Thornley    EMail jpt@diphi.demon.co.uk                           |
|                      phil.thornley@acm.org                           |
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