Critical Code

Critical Code contemplates Department of Defense (DoD) needs and priorities for software research and suggests a research agenda and related actions. Building on two prior books—Summary of a Workshop on Software Intensive Systems and Uncertainty at Scale and Preliminary Observations on DoD Software Research Needs and Priorities—the present volume assesses the nature of the national investment in software research and, in particular, considers ways to revitalize the knowledge base needed to design, produce, and employ software-intensive systems for tomorrow's defense needs.

Critical Code discusses four sets of questions:

• To what extent is software capability significant for the DoD? Is it becoming more or less significant and strategic in systems development?
• Will the advances in software producibility needed by the DoD emerge unaided from industry at a pace sufficient to meet evolving defense requirements?
• What are the opportunities for the DoD to make more effective use of emerging technology to improve software capability and software producibility?
• In which technology areas should the DoD invest in research to advance defense software capability and producibility?

Table of Contents

• Front Matter
• Summary
• 1 Recognize the Pivotal Role of DoD Software Innovation
• 2 Accept Uncertainty: Attack Risks and Exploit Opportunities
• 3 Assert DoD Architectural Leadership for Innovative Systems
• 4 Adopt a Strategic Approach to Software Assurance
• 5 Reinvigorate DoD Software Engineering Research
• Appendixes
• Appendix A: Briefers to the Committee
• Appendix B: Biosketches of Members of the Committee
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