Updates to NASA-HDBK-8739.23, Complex Electronics Handbook for Assurance Professionals, went into effect on Feb. 2, 2016. These changes brought the assurance handbook into alignment with its engineering handbook counterpart, NASA-HDBK-4008, Programmable Logic Devices (PLD) Handbook.

NASA-HDBK-8739.23, Complex Electronics Handbook for Assurance Professionals was updated to reflect terminology and technology from the PLD Handbook. The revisions also eliminated duplication from and discrepancies with the PLD Handbook.

“We cleaned up some of the terminology and made sure it’s compatible and in lockstep with the engineering handbook,” said Software Assurance Technical Fellow Martha Wetherholt. “Anything that the engineering handbook talked about, we talked about how to address on the assurance side.”

Because the complex electronics and PLD field is constantly advancing, it is important that these handbooks are in sync and addressing the same types of issues from both the engineering and assurance perspective, said Wetherholt.

Anyone who is assuring complex electronics and programmable devices should review both handbooks. The two handbooks now work in conjunction, and future updates will be released at the same time.