High Integrity C++ Explained

High Integrity C++ (HIC++ or formerly HICPP) is a software coding standard for the C++ programming language developed by Programming Research Limited, now part of Perforce Software.^[1] HIC++ was first published in October 2003.^[2] The latest revision, version 4.0, was released in October 2013 and documents 155 rules that restrict the use of ISO C++ language to improve software maintenance and reliability in high reliability or safety critical applications.^[3]

The Motor Industry Software Reliability Association (MISRA) C++ coding standard reference list includes High Integrity C++ .^[4]

Tools

Notable tools that check for compliance with High Integrity C++ are:

• LDRA Testbed by Liverpool Data Research Associates
• Helix QAC (formerly Programming Research Limited QA-C++)
• Parasoft C/C++test by Parasoft
• LLVM’s clang-tidy

Revision history

• 1.0 – 3 October 2003
• 2.0 – 20 October 2003
• 3.0 – 24 January 2008
• 4.0 – 3 October 2013

Notes and References

1. Web site: Clearlake-backed Perforce Software acquires Programming Research . pehub.com . 2018-05-02 . 2018-12-12.
2. Web site: Major update to High Integrity C++ Coding Standard (HIC++) . sdtimes.com . 2018-05-18 . 2018-12-12.
3. Web site: PRQA releases new high reliability C++ coding blueprint . Electronics Weekly . 3 October 2013 .
4. Book: MISRA C++:2008 . 2008 . The Motor Industry Software Reliability Association . 174.