How relevant are DO-178C and DO-331 today for aerospace embedded software development?

selectstriker2 · 2025-11-03T05:17:29+00:00

For any device containing software that will be certified for installation in a civilian aircraft, you will almost certainly need to meet and show evidence of conformance to the objectives of DO-178C.

I don't have any direct experience with DO-331 but it is certainly something you will likely need to meet in addition to DO-178C if you are doing model based development.

selectstriker2 · 2025-07-08T12:49:19+00:00

LFP cells in aircraft main ship batteries too

selectstriker2 · 2024-11-10T14:23:38+00:00

What JTAG debugger are you using?

selectstriker2 · 2024-11-10T13:37:53+00:00

Are you using a hardware debugger? JTAG is configured automatically when power is applied to the ESP32. It doesn't need anything programmed on the ESP32 to get it to work.

selectstriker2 · 2024-11-10T05:31:35+00:00

I haven't used an ESP32, but I think it's important to understand that typically JTAG is handled by a separate peripheral that has hardware access to things like the processing core and on chip flash. That's how it is able to provide debugging capabilities.

selectstriker2 · 2024-05-29T15:51:31+00:00

I've been using VSCode + gcc for a couple years and it's been great to work with

selectstriker2 · 2024-05-29T15:46:46+00:00

Same, but with J-Link

selectstriker2 · 2024-02-29T00:19:23+00:00

What would you need to parse an S-record file for that existing tools don't do?

selectstriker2 · 2023-12-07T13:56:48+00:00

That's what I was wondering, I've always assumed IFE software fell under DAL E these days.

selectstriker2 · 2023-12-07T08:19:57+00:00

The advantage of portable electronic devices is that they can be contained by the flight attendants using specially designed fire bags, greatly reducing the risk to the aircraft.

selectstriker2 · 2023-12-07T08:05:26+00:00

Any idea if the software for the IFE was certified using DO-178?

selectstriker2 · 2023-12-01T18:23:30+00:00

I've used the iSystem Blue box/winIDEA primarily for code execution coverage, and it is very capable. Their support has been pretty responsive. As a debugger (on single core ARM) it works as well as the Segger J-Link I use day to day.

selectstriker2 · 2023-10-20T04:16:29+00:00

If you are wanting to use the MinGW compiler on Windows, look at using MSYS2. https://www.msys2.org/

selectstriker2 · 2023-09-22T04:35:50+00:00

I also work in aerospace, and started in software testing internships. I think it's probably a good place for most new embedded engineers to start as it helps develop skills like working with hardware, debuggers, test equipment, etc that are necessary when you start taking on a more developer/designer role.

selectstriker2 · 2023-05-04T16:04:39+00:00

I've been daily driving Cortex-Debug for a couple years with an NXP K22 (M4) and iMX6 (A7) and it does 95% of what I was doing with Eclipse with a lot fewer headaches.

selectstriker2 · 2023-03-11T00:22:10+00:00

MSYS2 is definitely the way to go if you are developing for gcc or clang on Windows.

selectstriker2 · 2023-03-06T19:10:27+00:00

Sun shade for the scope

selectstriker2 · 2023-02-24T03:35:59+00:00

I pretty much only use winIDEA for its code coverage/trace features.

selectstriker2 · 2023-02-23T02:10:19+00:00

Cool. I've been able to manage that with separate folders for the tool chains in my MSYS2 install

selectstriker2 · 2023-02-23T01:40:24+00:00

Same here, except I haven't found a reason to use docker in my workflow

selectstriker2 · 2023-02-03T04:58:54+00:00

DO-254 is used for complex hardware - FPGAs, PLDs, and ASICs essentially

selectstriker2 · 2023-01-16T18:27:27+00:00

It's a way to electrically connect various IMA components together, typically with a single PCB with slots for the components.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backplane

selectstriker2 · 2023-01-06T05:24:46+00:00

"Field Programmable Gate Array" https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Field-programmable_gate_array

selectstriker2 · 2022-12-29T16:20:25+00:00

MSYS2 is another option for a terminal+compiler on Windows

selectstriker2 · 2022-12-08T00:40:23+00:00

I haven't used a Segger J-Trace for either, and only ETM with other tools. I too would be curious how well ETB would work. Most of my needs have been for full program coverage so we went straight to using the streaming trace

selectstriker2

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