PAT-076 - SAR - Software Acceptance Milestone Review Checklist AI (gpt-4o) The Software Acceptance Review (SAR) exit criteria outlined in NASA-HDBK-2203, Topic 7.09, evaluate whether the developed software meets all requirements, complies with relevant standards, has been fully tested, and is ready for formal delivery to the customer or integration into the system. The SAR verifies that the software is complete, acceptable for operational use, and properly documented for transfer and support.
Summary of Software SAR Exit Criteria - Requirements Satisfaction:
- All software requirements (functional, performance, safety, security, and interface) must be verified as fully satisfied.
- Traceability of requirements must be documented, demonstrating that every requirement has been implemented and successfully tested.
- Testing Completion and Results:
- All required testing (unit, integration, system, and acceptance tests) must be completed, with test results demonstrating that the software performs as intended.
- Any defects identified during testing must be resolved or mitigated, with associated action plans documented.
- System Integration Verification:
- The software must be successfully integrated and verified with all applicable system components, including hardware and external interfaces.
- Compatibility with the operational environment must be confirmed.
- Safety and Security Validation:
- Safety-critical and cybersecurity requirements must be successfully validated, ensuring the software does not pose unacceptable risks or vulnerabilities during operation.
- Hazard or vulnerability reports must be closed or mitigated to acceptable levels.
- Configuration Baseline Established:
- The final software build, source code, executable files, libraries, and configurations must be baselined and approved.
- Configuration management must ensure consistency across delivered software artifacts.
- Documentation Completion:
- All required documentation (e.g., Software Requirements Specification, design documents, test plans, test results, user guides, and operational procedures) must be reviewed and formally approved.
- Documentation must adequately describe the software to enable operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
- Customer Approval and Acceptance:
- The customer (or end-user) must formally review and approve the software, confirming that it meets their expectations and mission objectives.
- Any outstanding issues or concerns from the customer must be documented and addressed.
- Training and Support Materials:
- End-user training and operational instructions must be completed to ensure readiness for software operation.
- Maintenance guides, troubleshooting procedures, and support resources must be provided to facilitate future operational and maintenance phases.
- Risk Closure:
- All software-related risks must be resolved or mitigated before delivery, with documentation confirming closure of safety, technical, and operational risks.
- Residual risk management plans must be in place for issues that cannot be fully resolved.
- Delivery Plan and Transfer:
- A formal plan for software delivery and transfer must be established, confirming delivery of all software products, documentation, and artifacts to the customer or operations team.
- Approval for final delivery must be received from all relevant stakeholders.
Key Purpose of Software SAR Exit Criteria The SAR ensures that: - The software is fully developed, tested, and validated to meet all requirements and is ready for handoff to the customer or operational teams.
- Stakeholders and end-users have confidence in the software's quality, reliability, and operational readiness.
- Proper documentation, training, and ongoing support plans are in place to ensure successful deployment and use of the software.
Conclusion: The Software SAR Exit Criteria confirm the software's readiness for formal acceptance and delivery, validating that it satisfies all requirements and can be successfully integrated into the system or operational environment. By meeting these criteria, NASA ensures that the software is robust, reliable, and capable of achieving mission objectives while providing long-term support and maintainability. |
