VectorCAST/Ada automates the creation of test drivers and stubs, giving your team a complete, executable test harness without manual test code writing. Unit and integration testing for Ada has traditionally been a labor-intensive process. VectorCAST/Ada changes that by handling harness construction automatically, so engineers can focus on building thorough test cases rather than the scaffolding around them.
Tests can be executed natively on a host, on a target simulator, or directly on embedded target hardware using VectorCAST RSP. Test cases developed in a host environment can be re-executed on your target to validate cross-compiler behavior and real-world performance.
Who is VectorCAST/Ada for?
VectorCAST/Ada is used by Ada developers and test engineers in mission-critical and safety-critical programs, including aerospace, railway, and other regulated industries. It supports Ada 83, Ada 95, Ada 2005, and Ada 2012, and works with both new and legacy codebases.
Advantages
VectorCAST/Ada replaces the manual overhead of Ada test harness creation with an automated, repeatable process that supports both new development and legacy code validation.
Eliminate manual harness writing
Drivers and stubs are generated automatically from your source code. Your engineers define the test logic, not the infrastructure around it.
Apply the same rigour to legacy Ada code
VectorCAST/Ada works on both new and existing Ada applications. Retrofitting unit tests to legacy code is straightforward without major rework.
Prove coverage to avionics and military standards
Code coverage analysis is tuned to the levels required by industry standards including DO-178C. The coverage viewer identifies untested lines directly in your source.
Run tests on host, simulator, or embedded target
Test cases transfer from host to embedded target without a rewrite. VectorCAST RSP handles execution on target hardware automatically and seamlessly.
Make regression testing automatic
Test data is kept separately from the harness. Regression runs execute against updated source without recompiling the test executable for each change.
Application Areas
VectorCAST/Ada is used in programs where Ada is the primary language and software correctness is mission- or safety-critical.
Aerospace
Unit and integration testing for airborne software components per DO-178B and DO-178C, including coverage evidence at the levels required for higher design assurance classifications.
Industrial
Systematic software verification for Ada components in programs governed by IEC 61508.
Railway
Software verification and validation for Ada components in programs governed by EN 50716:2023.
Key Features
VectorCAST/Ada automates every stage of the Ada unit and integration testing workflow, from harness generation through coverage reporting and regression execution.
Building and Running Tests
Automatic Test Harness Construction
Generates all test infrastructure from your Ada source code. No manual test code writing required.
Data-Driven Execution
Test harness reads test data at runtime. No recompilation required for each test case update.
Automatic Test Case Generation
Generates test cases from decision paths, providing a starting point before manual test development begins.
Regression Testing
Test cases re-execute automatically against updated source. Test execution playback assists in debugging failures.
On-Target Testing
Execute tests directly on embedded target hardware via VectorCAST RSP. No test rewriting required to move from host to target.
Analysis and Visibility
Code Coverage Analysis
Coverage metrics pinpoint untested lines. Configurable to the coverage levels required by DO-178 and other standards.
Code Complexity Analysis
Static complexity metrics highlight high-risk code and help prioritise testing effort.
Ada Standard and Toolchain Support
Ada 83 through Ada 2012. Integrations with AdaCore GNAT, Green Hills AdaMULTI, DDC-I SCORE, Atego ObjectAda, IBM Rational Rhapsody, and DOORS.
Frequently Asked Questions
