Open-data architecture for programming safety functions
Safety+ is an open data architecture for agile, transparent programming of safety functions, which adds flexibility in choosing programming languages and data types, enables efficient interaction with third-party tools and platforms, and lets developers use the latest software engineering tools and methods for safety applications. An innovative data structure with a digital fingerprint makes the source code freely accessible while also meeting the special requirements of functional safety. Safety+’s three main features are:
· Data architecture that stores information in a freely accessible format with every change documented. Source files are stored in an open, text-based code repository in formats such as XML or JSON. To ensure the integrity of the program code despite being open, each file is given a digital fingerprint that indicates when something changes. Supplemented with detailed metadata, what was changed, when and by whom is transparent. Plus, this metadata doesn't only reference the complete safety application. Users can track every change down to the function block and parameter-set level, which lets them optimize the code in a more targeted way. This results in more agile engineering of safety functions that can then be more easily adapted to changing user requirements.
· Flexible choice of language and data type that lets users create and manage safety applications using third-party tools and platforms. For example, integrating safety programming into common tools such as GitHub and Jenkins, lets developers work with greater flexibility. This simplifies development processes, and promotes collaboration and exchange within the developer community. Also, a command line interface (CLI) is available for automatic build generation and continuous integration, allowing developers to interact directly with the software in headless mode and process program code efficiently.
· Tools and processes from standard programming grant new freedom choosing programming languages and application-specific fine-tuning when programming with data types. Users were previously limited in their choice of programming languages and data types for functional safety applications. Safety+ gives user a wider range of programming options, including function blocks, ladder diagrams and structured texts. It removes prior restrictions on data types, and supports elements such as arrays, structs and real data types that are standard in non-safety programming.
