DO-178B REQUIRES configuration MANAGEMENT of all software lifecycle artifacts INCLUDING requirements, design, code, tests, documentation, etc. However, DO178B does not require specific tools, not even for avionics configuration management. Hence, avionics configuration management can be performed manually and even via a purely paper-based system. However, virtually all avionics and DO-178B software projects would be better served via configuration management tool. Simple tools (FREE or low-cost: $0 - $200/user) provide for basic software version control, check-in/check-out, and document management. Higher cost tools provide more complexity and automation of the required DO-178B configuration management processes including problem tracking, version BRANCHING, reviews/statusing, metrics, etc.

No commercially available FAA CM tool known to us, however, performs all of the required DO-178B configuration management process steps. In particular, data security, offsite backups, peer reviewing each change, and ensuring no unwarranted changes were made, are all DO-178B configuration management process steps that are typically performed outside the scope of an avionics configuration management tool.

DO-178B requires configuration management of all software lifecycle artifacts including requirements, design, code, tests, documentation, etc. However, DO178B does not require specific tools, not even for avionics configuration management. Hence, avionics configuration management can be performed manually and even via a purely paper-based system. However, virtually all avionics and DO-178B software projects would be better served via configuration management tool. Simple tools (free or low-cost: $0 - $200/user) provide for basic software version control, check-in/check-out, and document management. Higher cost tools provide more complexity and automation of the required DO-178B configuration management processes including problem tracking, version branching, reviews/statusing, metrics, etc.

No commercially available FAA CM tool known to us, however, performs all of the required DO-178B configuration management process steps. In particular, data security, offsite backups, peer reviewing each change, and ensuring no unwarranted changes were made, are all DO-178B configuration management process steps that are typically performed outside the scope of an avionics configuration management tool.