GoogleTest Adoption Challenges for Safety-Critical Code

This white paper discusses the challenges associated with adopting GoogleTest for safety-critical C/C++ software development. It outlines the importance of unit testing in ensuring compliance with software requirements and highlights the differences between open-source and commercial testing frameworks. The paper identifies two main challenges in using GoogleTest: extending its functionalities for standards compliance and navigating the tool qualification process. It references ISO 26262 and DO-178C as industry standards that influence testing methodologies. The document details various testing techniques recommended by these standards, such as structural coverage metrics and fault injection testing. Furthermore, it compares the advantages and disadvantages of GoogleTest against commercial frameworks, emphasizing its flexibility and ease of integration with modern C++. The paper concludes by discussing options for enhancing GoogleTest with additional capabilities necessary for compliance, including code coverage tools and fault tolerance testing frameworks.