DO-178C Verification (avionics/do178c/verification)

Use when the task is DO-178C verification-phase work: proving the software meets its requirements and analyzing structural coverage to the depth the software level demands.

Domain quick reference

• Verification (DO-178C): review of architecture, design, and code, plus requirements-based testing; every requirement is exercised.
• Structural coverage depth scales with level: A = MC/DC, B = decision, C = statement, D/E = none required.
• Coverage must reach 100% of the required metric for the level.
• Independence: levels A and B require independent verification; C/D/E allow the developer's organization to verify.
• Verification results, problem reports, and coverage analysis are the outputs the process must deliver.

Workflow

1. Confirm the software level and the applicable coverage depth.
2. Review software architecture, design, and code against requirements.
3. Run requirements-based tests; confirm every requirement is exercised.
4. Analyze structural coverage at the required depth (A MC/DC, B decision, C statement).
5. Levels A/B: perform the independent verification activities.
6. Produce verification results, coverage analysis, and review records.

Pitfalls

• Coverage depth mismatched to level (A requires MC/DC, not statement).
• Structural coverage below 100% of the required metric.
• Requirements-based testing without exercising every requirement.
• Missing independence at level A or B.

Behavior contract (gate 3)

The coverage-depth and independence logic is exercised by the gate 3 contract test: scripts/test_verification.py against scripts/verification_logic.py (stdlib unittest, offline). Run: python3 scripts/test_verification.py

Compliance

• Standards referenced, not reproduced: DO-178C / ARP4754A / ARP4761A text is proprietary (RTCA/SAE); summary-only per standards-map.yaml and brief 06.
• Revision note: ARP4754B (2023) supersedes ARP4754A; this skill keys to ARP4754A as the certification-baseline revision (FAA AC 20-174 cites A); see standards-map.yaml arp4754a.revision_decision.
• compliance: STANDARDS-REF, gated: false.