Research on the qualification of TQL-5 COTS Tools in airborne software reliability verification process based on DO-330

Abstract The rapid development of airborne software is inseparable from the help of tools, especially the TQL-5 (Tool Qualification Level 5 based on DO-330) COTS (commercial off-the-shelf tools) tool, which is the most widely used. It is worth noting that to ensure software reliability and safety, the tool also needs to be qualified. Based on the DO-330 standard, this paper introduces the qualification methods for COTS tools, TQL-5 tools, and TQL-5 COTS tools, focusing on how to qualify TQL-5 COTS tools and the objectives that tool developers and users need to meet. It plays a guiding role in the airworthiness of airborne software tool users and tool developers.