The GoogleTest Qualification Kit: Streamlining Safety-Critical Compliance

GoogleTest (gtest) is an open-source C++ testing framework broadly used for its flexibility and reliability. Originally developed by Google in 2008, it has become the industry standard for unit testing in C++ projects, including those in automotive, aerospace, railway, industrial automation and other safety critical fields.

GoogleTest empowers developers with features that make testing smarter and more efficient:

• Independent & Repeatable Tests
  Simplify debugging and ensure consistent results across environments.

• Detailed Failure Messages
  Get clear insights into what went wrong, reducing guesswork and speeding up fixes.

• Non-Fatal Error Handling
  Continue running tests even after minor failures, streamlining the fix-and-retest cycle.

These capabilities allow teams to focus on writing effective tests, accelerating development and delivering more reliable software.

While gtest is powerful, it wasn’t designed for safety certification. In regulated domains, tool qualification is essential to ensure that testing results are accurate and trustworthy. Without qualification, compliance with international safety standards becomes a major hurdle.

Imagine building a bridge. You wouldn’t just trust the steel; you’d verify every tool used in construction. The same applies to software for airbags, medical devices, or autonomous systems. Tool qualification provides documented proof that gtest works as intended in your environment, mitigating risks and ensuring compliance.

The QKit is a comprehensive, ready-to-use solution for qualifying GoogleTest in safety-critical projects. Whether you need a single qualification or a fully scalable, automated solution, QKit delivers:

• Standard-Compliant Documentation

• Detailed Tool Safety Manual

• Coverage of Most gtest Features

• Adaptable & Extendable for Your Configuration

• Accelerates compliance with ISO 26262, IEC 61508, DO-178C, and other standards

• Reduces qualification effort and cost

• Provides confidence in tool reliability

• Enables safe use of gtest in production environments

Integrating the Validas gtest Qualification Kit (QKit) into your development workflow delivers clear advantages:

• Continuous Evolution
  Owned and maintained by Validas, the QKit evolves alongside GoogleTest and changing safety standards ensuring long-term relevance.

• Tailored to Your Configuration
  Adaptable to your specific hardware and software setup, avoiding generic solutions that leave qualification gaps.

• Automated Precision
  Executes and analyzes tests automatically, reducing manual effort, minimizing human error, and accelerating qualification.

• Standard-Compliant Documentation
  Generates documentation aligned with ISO 26262, IEC 61508, and DO-330, saving time and simplifying compliance.

• A Clear Path to Certification
  Provides a solid foundation for certification, eliminating ambiguity from the qualification process.

Validas offers more than a kit. It provides end-to-end support. From extending QKit and analyzing results to producing compliant documentation, we help you focus on development and business goals.

For organizations with limited resources or unique project needs, Validas offers Single Qualification performed entirely within our environment. No installation required, saving time and effort. Need custom coverage? We can extend the test suite to meet your requirements.

Using open-source tools in safety-critical systems is no longer a risk! It is a strategic advantage. With Validas, you gain:

• Confidence in compliance

• Reduced certification effort

• A clear, efficient route to TÜV certification

• A partner with expertise in both tooling and safety standards

In safety-critical development, using a powerful framework like GoogleTest isn’t enough. To ensure compliance and mitigate risk, tool qualification is essential.

With the gtest Qualification Kit and Validas expertise, you get a clear, efficient, and guaranteed path to success. The QKit isn’t just a product, it’s a strategic asset, empowering teams to build safer software with confidence.

The Qualification Kit might be the smartest investment you make.
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