IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced new software that takes the complexity out of complex systems development and improves developer productivity. The new offerings allow developers to more easily adhere to protocols, standards and code review to ensure the quality of products before they hit the market.Complex systems development brings hardware and software components together to create systems such as modern cellular phones and treadmills. Airplanes, space craft, missile defense systems and automobile anti-lock braking systems are also examples of complex systems with more severe consequences if they fail to function properly.
IBM Rational software provides an integrated approach to architecting, building and delivering complex system of systems. IBM software helps customers manage requirements and provide better traceability in systems, develop full systems models, increase predictability and reliability of systems, and improve development team collaboration. With today's announcement, developers of complex systems can better ensure the quality and reliability of complex systems software, while adhering to important industry standards.
Industries, from automotive to aerospace and defense, have long operated under a proprietary set of technologies. With increased competition and software and services driving innovation and differentiating the market, a concentrated push for adopting standards in these industries has been underway for nearly a decade. In some cases, standards are designed to simplify, save money, and capitalize on shrinking markets. In other scenarios, the standards are created to increase reliability, levels of precision and effectiveness, and higher degrees of error free code.
"Undoubtedly the stakes are raised," said Dr. Danny Sabbah, general manager, IBM Rational software. "There is no acceptable margin of error for military defense systems, automobile safety, and space exploration -- and increasingly these customers are turning to IBM to help them make certain that all systems are a go."
The new offerings help developers of complex systems meet specific industry standards to help ensure the quality and reliability of complex real-time and embedded software. This class of software developer faces monumental challenges -- not only getting the job done, but doing so in a manner that doesn't risk lives at the end of the day. The IBM software helps systems developers adhere to protocols, standards and code review -- ensuring that the lines of code they are writing are in line with broader project goals and helping to deliver higher quality final products.
New enhancements in complex systems development
IBM Rational Test Real-Time is a comprehensive testing solution which provides capabilities to help developers meet specific industry standards, such as DO-178B, MISRA and Defense Standard 00-55, and ensure the quality and reliability of real-time and embedded solutions. Unlike other industry offerings, IBM Rational Test Real-Time offers a complete testing solution which incorporates static analysis with component testing and runtime analysis in one product leveraging Eclipse. Additionally, each of these capabilities is available on multiple host and target platforms including C, C++, Ada and Java J2SE.
IBM Rational Systems Developer and IBM Rational Software Modeler are design and development tools that leverage model-driven development with the UML 2.1 for creating well-architected, quality software products and systems. IBM Rational Systems Developer and IBM Rational Software Modeler have been updated to support the new UML Profile for DoDAF and MoDAF (UPDM) standards defined by the Object Management Group (OMG) to describe enterprise architectures in such a way that the architectures can be exchanged, compared and analyzed. IBM Rational Systems Developer and IBM Rational Software Modeler are built on the open, modular, and extensible Eclipse platform.
"It's no secret that software systems are getting more and more complex, even as they are embedded into smaller and smaller devices. The only hope to control this complexity is to move to a model-driven, services-focused approach to software development, deployment & maintenance," said Richard Mark Soley, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO, Object Management Group. "Offerings like IBM Rational Systems Developer make it possible to deliver, support & maintain better software, faster and cheaper. Modeling standards make it possible to deliver high-quality systems over and over in the face of constantly changing requirements and infrastructure; and standards supporting consistent development methodologies like DoDAF/MoDAF in the defense industry lower initial cost, mitigate development risk and lower long-term project maintenance as well."
For more information, please visit: http://www.ibm.com/software/rational/systems
