Introduction
No matter how carefully software is being developed, at the end only the quality of the product matters, both for the developer and the user. The central question is: does the software system provide the added value which it has promised?
LaQuSo (Laboratory for Quality Software) fully concentrates on measuring, quantifying and predicting the quality of software. This includes the intermediate results that are produced during the development process, as well as the end product, the code of the program. That is why LaQuSo wants to provide its customers a maximal insight in the reliability and predictability of software.
More than 50% of software development time is spent on finding errors. LaQuSo helps to decrease this percentage. This is done by developing methods, techniques and tools to detect bugs in artifacts of the software industry. The starting point for all those activities is the problem description defined by the software industry i.e. organizations and departments that professionally develop software.
LaQuSo develops and supports two core competences.
• (Formal) methods, techniques and tools for verification (proving)
• (Empirical)methods, techniques and tools for validation
A Certificate for software
The complexity of software systems is growing. At the same time, the demand for security and dependability increases, this is certainly true for the users’ side. Moreover, the legislation puts even higher demands.
This requires an independent evaluation. LaQuSo will achieve this by introducing a quality certificate for software systems or parts of them. The basis for such certificate is a clearly formulated requirements package which can be thoroughly diagnosed by LaQuSo. As soon as LaQuSo does not detect any more errors, there is a foundation for the certificate: “LaQuSo cannot find any more bugs in this system”.
LaQuSo is developing itself as “the” expertise and research centre for verification and validation of software systems. Methods and tools come from the scientific world, as well as from industrial practice. LaQuSo will bridge the gap between scientific computer science and software industry. The piles under this bridge are adding value with low thresholds; transforming scientific knowledge into methods, techniques, and applicable tooling for industry; performing practical case studies; researching with and for the industry and transferring the obtained knowledge and developed methods, techniques and tools to the industry.
Themes and domains
LaQuSo groups its activities into six themes. These are complementary and support each another.
The themes optimally fit to both of the goals: increasing the quality of software and bridging science and industry. The themes are presented in the following model:
Research is further focused on 7 domains and services. The domains represent on the one hand the development cycle of software systems i.e. Requirements, Architecture, Software code and Executing systems, and on the other special properties that need special attention, such as Security, User interaction and Performance of software systems.
Tools
The industry has developed a vast amount of tools for verification and validation of software systems. These tools form the instrumental basis for the support of the certification program. Moreover, LaQuSo develops additional tools in-house, and a repository as a mediator between the different views of the system. Due to the formation of the expertise centre these tools will be visible and applicable for industry and the scientific community. This leads to knowledge transfer,practical daily usage and development of new tools.
Methods and techniques for verification and validation form the underlying value for the diagnosis of software systems. The software industry currently does apply a limited number of methodologies.
LaQuSo will define and perform new research in cooperation with the industry. Such projects are substantive and financially possible thanks to the good contacts between the industry, LaQuSo, the universities, the ministry of economic affairs and other financial sponsors.
Cooperation
The cooperation between LaQuSo and industry might have several appearances.
In case studies we identify problems, put diagnoses and offer solution directions. Apart from the case studies performed by students within the framework of a training period, we distinguish professional case studies. These lead to a formal diagnosis and possibly to a certification of the examined software system.
Innovation takes place in the research projects which LaQuSo carries out by itself, or with partners. Several research projects concern fundamental research in the field of verification and validation. LaQuSo gives large importance to the research initiated by the industry and to the investigations that are conducted in close cooperation with industry. The industry can outsource research to LaQuSo.
The available methods, techniques and tools for verification and validation are operational in the LaQuSo Expertise Centre. Interested parties can use the demonstration facilities of LaQuSo.
This program contributes to the knowledge transfer by organizing lectures, conferences,publications, demonstrations etc. for industry and science.
Organization
LaQuSo, Laboratory for Quality Software, is a joint activity of 3TU. and Radboud University Nijmegen. All knowledge and capacity in the domain of verification and validation of software systems present at these universities is available via LaQuSo. To guard the focus and bridge between science and industry an Advisory Board with representatives and thought leaders of both the industry and the scientific world advices the direction and the management.
For more information: http://www.laquso.com/
Scientific leader: Drs. Henk Schimmel (TU/e)
Contact:
Ir. H.T.G. Weffers
Visiting Address:
Eindhoven University of Technology
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Main Building (HG), Floor 5, Office 5.91
Den Dolech 2,
5612 AZ, Eindhoven,
The Netherlands Route Description 
Postal Address
Eindhoven University of Technology
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
c.o. Mrs. W.M.P.J. Quaedflieg HG 5.91,
P.O. Box 513,
5600 MB Eindhoven,
The Netherlands
Phone+31 40 247 2526
Fax+31 40 247 4252
Internet: http://www.laquso.com/
