Cleanroom Software Engineering Reference

Cleanroom software engineering is a theory-based team-oriented process for development and certification of high-reliability software systems under statistical quality control. A principal objective of the Cleanroom process is development of software that exhibits zero failures in use. The Cleanroom name is borrowed from hardware Cleanrooms, with their emphasis on rigorous engineering discipline and focus on defect prevention rather than defect removal. Cleanroom combines mathematically based methods of software specification, design, and correctness verification with statistical, usage-based testing to certify software fitness for use. Cleanroom projects have reported substantial gains in quality and productivity. This report defines the Cleanroom Software Engineering Reference Model, or CRM. The CRM is expressed in terms of a set of 14 Cleanroom processes and 20 work products. It is intended as a guide for Cleanroom project management and performance, process assessment and improvement, and technology transfer and adoption.