Software reliability and the "Cleanroom" approach: a position paper

In the context of software engineering, the IEEE defines reliability as "the ability of a system or component to perform its required functions under stated conditions for a specified period of time". The author believes that improving the development process is really the longer end of the lever. The Cleanroom approach, initially conceived at IBM's Federal Systems Division, is a proven set of principles, practices, and techniques for reducing the cost to develop highly reliable software. While this paper does not explain all of what Cleanroom offers, the author gives an overview of the approach and cite some examples of its use with which he is familiar.