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Software Approvals For Consumer Markets?

Posted by Cliff on from the improving-software-or-hindering-development dept.

Odkin asks: "Some friends and I are struggling with a hardware project which is stalled due to costly consumer market approvals (which is alright I guess). But it struck me, why are there only market approvals for hardware and not software? The hardware approvals include functionality tests that ensure that the product works as intended in any way the user would handle it (even unsuitable use). Would such approvals for commercial software improve the quality of the products, including minimizing the risk of data loss and heightening the security? In other words, would it facilitate or inhibit the creation of good software?"

2 of 227 comments (clear)

  1. Approvals are for a different purpose. by HotNeedleOfInquiry · · Score: 4, Informative
    Approvals are for specific safety and RF interference issues, not for functionality or reliability.

    The FCC/CE wants to make sure that your widget doesn't interfere with the other widgets. UL/CSA wants to make sure your widget doesn't burn the house down.

    I know that CE has some EMI susceptablilty stuff that isn't exactly safety, but for the most part, the issue is making a safe, non-interfering widget. The widget could fail in 2 days, as long as it fails safely.

    You are posing a question that is pretty much unrelated to hardware approvals.

    --
    "Eve of Destruction", it's not just for old hippies anymore...
  2. Re:Is software a bridge or a burger? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative
    Speaking of bridges...

    http://www.cs.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/pearls/sec073.ht ml

    I think every software developer should read that... perhaps annually. :-)