RE:C++ subsets



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From: David Crocker (dcrocker(at)eschertech.com)
Date: Thu 05 Feb 2004 - 13:16:30 GMT


The only public specification for a C++ subset I am aware of is Embedded C++.
This subset does not have safety as its prime objective, although its objectives
include "to provide embedded systems programmers with a subset of C++ that is
easy for the average C programmer to understand and use" and "Taking care not to
produce unpredictable responses". However, it doesn't even have a MISRA-like set
of rules to avoid unsafe constructs. It defines a language subset (mostly
syntactic) and a few guidelines (which are mostly not to do with safety).

Although our formal methods tool generates code in a C++ subset, we do not yet
publish a specification for the subset. However we have made a start by
publishing on our web site a matrix indicating compliance or otherwise with the
MISRA C rules.

One tool vendor I spoke to recently has a set of C++ subsetting rules for static
checking, but I don't know the details.

David Crocker
Escher Technologies Ltd.
www.eschertech.com
Tel. +44(0)1252 336565  Fax +44(0)1252 320954


-----Original Message-----
From: safety-critical-request(at)cs.york.ac.uk
[mailto:safety-critical-request(at)cs.york.ac.uk]On Behalf Of Jolliffe
Graham
Sent: 05 February 2004 09:32
To: safety-critical(at)cs.york.ac.uk
Subject: - RE: [sc] FAA Object Oriented Technolo gy in Aviation handbook
public draft


I too would be interested in any info on safe/safer subset of C++.  I have a
S-C FADEC system that has been certified by the FAA which uses C++.
However, neither they nor the FADEC DA will tell me what this subset is.  It
leaves me somewhat sceptical that a robust safety argument has been
employed.


Graham Jolliffe
Technical Assurance Manager
Safety and Software
* gjolliffe(at)QinetiQ.com
* 01980 662349
Fax 01980 663326

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