Abstract

In this paper we propose a method for certification of technical quality of software products. The certification method employs a layered model of technical quality, based on the ISO/IEC 9126 international standard for software product quality. This model was developed in the context of software assessments conducted on commercial software systems over the course of several years. Using the layered quality model as a basis, we define a three-phase appraisal method that ends in certification of a software product at one of five possible levels. We illustrate the certification method by providing details of its application to twelve open source database management systems and five open source web servers.