C/C++ Unit Test Tool for Safety Critical Software

Cantata is a dynamic testing tool for unit and integration testing C and C++, and helps accelerate compliance with the standard’s dynamic testing requirements.

Key automation benefits:

  • Reusable embedded target test framework
  • Test case generation & execution
  • Test and code coverage results diagnostics & certification evidence
  • Cut cost of standards compliance

With the Cantata flexible toolset you can choose which combination of automated testing capabilities are right to drive your unit tests, integration tests or to enhance your higher-level tests.

Request a full feature license – free of charge!

  • Very simple installation
  • Full technical support
  • Full featured license for a limited period
  • 60 – 90 minute web meeting 
  • Tool overview presentation
  • Customised demonstration
  • Interactive Q&A with experts
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Which software safety standards require software unit/integration testing?

International software safety standards require evidence of low level (unit and integration) testing to obtain certification for the device software.

Cantata is a unit test tool for embedded C/C++ software, certified by SGS-TÜV SAAR as suitable for use at the highest Safety Integrity Levels of all these standards:

  • ISO 26262

    Road vehicles – Functional safety

  • IEC 60880

    Nuclear Power

  • IEC 62304

    Medical device software – software life cycle processes

  • EN 50657

    Railway applications – Rolling Stock Applications – Software on Board Rolling

  • EN 50128

    Railway applications – Communication, signaling and processing systems

  • IEC 61508

    Functional Safety of Electrical/ Electronic/ Programmable Electronic Safety-related Systems

  • DO-178 B/C

    Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification

Cantata provides all capabilities required for embedded software testing standards compliance, including: unit testing, integration testing, code coverage, execution on host or target hardware environments, and automated regression testing for integration with DevOps and CI/CD workflows.

"Module testing early during development is becoming more important due to the increasing complexity of software. In practice Cantata has proved successful and increased unit testing efficiency. Cantata from QA Systems offers an ideal solution for the creation and execution of unit and integration tests, including coverage analysis."

Matthias Schmidt, Test management, Verification and Validation,
Bosch Engineering GmbH

"Through years of experience in unit testing using Cantata for various platforms and languages… we are confident in suggesting Cantata to our clients."

Padmakumar TV, Senior Engineering Specialist,
TATA Elxsi

"No-one pretends that Unit Testing is the most interesting activity in the world, but that's all the more reason why we need tools that are usable and reliable, which yours are."

BAE Systems

WHICH LEADING COMPANIES USE CANTATA?

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SAAB_Case_Study_AirBus_A400M_for_DO-178B
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HOW ABOUT YOU?

Start a free trial of CANTATA to explore how easy unit testing can be within your software testing process!

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How does Cantata work?

  • Cantata provides an integrated test framework (test scripts and a supporting library) that enables any combination of testing styles for both unit and scalable integration testing.
  • Tests can be edited in a GUI or directly as C/C++ code, and run as executables on both host and multiple target platforms.
  • Tests are built with the code under test, using your standard build mechanism and downloaded to run on a target platform.
  • Cantata test scripts can be generated from one or more selected source code files. The source code is parsed to obtain a comprehensive model (.csi file) of the code, so structured tests can be generated from it.
  • Cantata provides an integrated test framework (test scripts and a supporting library) which enables any combination of testing styles for both unit and scalable integration testing.
  • All Cantata related files are stored in the “Cantata” directory at the top-level of a project. This allows the test files to co-exist with your source files in a self-contained hierarchy and to be easily managed using version control tools.

Gain insights from our whitepapers

WHY PAY FOR A UNIT TEST TOOL?

This paper addresses the question “Why pay for a unit test tool?” by considering the Quality / Resource / Time opportunity costs of choosing an open source tool, and sets out the compelling case for investing in commercial tools.

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AN INTRODUCTION TO SAFETY CRITICAL SYSTEMS

This paper is aimed to serve as a tutorial for developers who are new to the development of software for safety critical systems.

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C AND C++ SOFTWARE TESTING – AM I COVERED?

This paper looks at the various applications of the term ‘coverage’ in the software development industry for software written in C and C++.

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15 WAYS TO MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF UNIT TESTS IN SAFETY CRITICAL PROJECTS

This paper discusses approaches you can take with your unit testing to maximize their contribution to the development process.

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