More and more, software is being relied upon in safety-critical systems in both the military and commercial sectors. Software provides many advantages. Among other traits, it makes complex systems easier to build, it doesn't wear out, and it's easy to modify. However, software is notoriously difficult to rid of all errors, which has significant consequences on the trustworthiness of critical systems. This web site, through case studies and other analyses, looks at the differences and similarities between critical software reliability in the military/government and commercial sectors. Do differences exist, and if so, is one sector better able to provide reliable systems?

The case studies on this site provide a glimpse into how software is developed and tested in military/government and commercial sectors, what challenges the software faces, and how it fails. The analysis draws on the case studies to compare and contrast the approaches and outcomes in both sectors. It indicates that there are differences in approach, but neither sector seems to routinely produce more reliable systems. In the conclusion, a look at what software developers can learn from this analysis is presented.