Here you will find answers to some of the most common questions we get asked about MISRA and MISRA activities. Please check this list before contacting us as your query may be answered here!
This FAQ currently contains the following sections. Click on a link to go straight to the section, or browse the whole list.
About MISRA
About MISRA
MISRA publications
Electronic versions of publications
Website
MISRA C
MISRA web store
MISRA Bulletin Board
What is MISRA?
MISRA, The Motor Industry Software Reliability Association, is a collaboration between vehicle manufacturers, component suppliers and engineering consultancies which seeks to promote best practice in developing safety-related electronic systems in road vehicles.
Who are the members of MISRA?
The MISRA members at present are (in alphabetical order)
MIRA or MISRA - what's the difference?
MIRA is a member of MISRA and provides the project management and administrative functions. MIRA and MISRA are not the same organization.
What activities is MISRA working on at the moment?
MISRA has the following items currently in work:
When will these documents be published?
The autocode activity released its first documents in November 2007 with further documents planned for 2008. MISRA C++ is due for release in the first quarter of 2008. MISRA C3 activities have just commenced, and the aim is to publish a new version in approximately 2010. Check this website regularly for announcements on publication dates.
Can I get involved in MISRA?
We welcome active participants in our working groups who are prepared to contribute to the technical work of these groups. From time to time we ask for external reviewers to comment on drafts of our documents. Please contact us if you are interested in either of these.
How can I keep in touch with MISRA developments?
Either through this website, or by the MISRA news mailing list. To join the mailing list, send an e-mail to misra-news-join (at) list.misra.org.uk. The subject and body of the message can be left blank.
Alternatively visit The MISRA news list page.
I joined the mailing list but now I want to leave. What do I do?
Send an e-mail to misra-news-leave (at) list.misra.org.uk. The subject and body of the message can be left blank. Note that this message must be sent from the exact same e-mail address from which you subscribed. Please note that the list will send you an email asking you to confirm this action.
Alternatively visit the user management page at the address sent to you in the welcome email.
Notes about the MISRA NEWS mailing list
Despite messages to the contrary from the mailing list server ...
MISRA publications
What publications are there? What's the difference?
There are seven main MISRA publications:
The MISRA Guidelines describe the approach to developing the embedded software in a safety-related automotive system. MISRA C was produced to meet a specific technical requirement of the MISRA Guidelines, namely the use of a restricted subset of a standardized structured programming language. The MISRA AC documents apply a similar approach to the graphical programming languagues used in model-based development. MISRA SA extends the MISRA Guidelines, particularly in giving extended detailed advice on the sections on Integrity and Safety Analysis, as well as presenting additional advice on other parts of safety management and the safety lifecycle.
Aren't the MISRA Guidelines a bit out of date?
Development Guidelines for Vehicle Based Software was published in November 1994 with an anticipated 10-year lifespan (10 years order of magnitude, not precisely 10 years).
So, will they be updated?
We have started work on a version 2 but there are potential changes to international standards, including ISO 26262 "Road vehicles - Functional safety", and revisions to IEC 61508 which we understand are both due in 2009. We therefore plan to review the structure and content of a revised "Development Guidelines" once ISO 26262 and IEC 61508 edition 2 have been published. In the meantime MISRA SA gives some specific guidance on safety management that can be used to establish processes meeting the requirements of these standards. See also the next question.
How do the MISRA Guidelines relate to IEC 61508?
IEC 61508 Functional safety of electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety-related systems is a generic standard. At the time of writing Development Guidelines for Vehicle Based Software IEC 61508 had not been published, although the authors did consider earlier drafts of the standard. Many of the principles of the standard are embodied in the Guidelines with an automotive focus where appropriate. The MISRA Safety Analsysis guidelines provide a "mapping" between the IEC 61508 safety lifecycle and automotive product lifecycles.
Can I still get the document? Your website lists it as "out of print".
You can purchase a PDF version from the webstore. Alternatively ISO supply it as ISO/TR 15497.
How do the MISRA Safety Analysis Guidelines relate to ISO 26262?
ISO 26262 Road Vehicles - Functional safety has not yet been published but is intended as an automotive interpretation of IEC 61508. As both MISRA SA and ISO 26262 are based on IEC 61508, there is a general agreement in their respective approaches. However, MISRA SA does not cover all the stages of the safety lifecycle, but rather provides a framework that can be used to introduce functional safety management, supported by an appropriate process. Within this framework, the requirements of either IEC 61508 or draft ISO 26262 can be met.
Does MISRA offer training on the use of its documents?
Not at the present time, although some of the member companies may do.
Electronic versions of publications
What documents are available electronically?
Most MISRA documents are now available for purchase as PDF files from the webstore.
Is MISRA C available as a PDF?
MISRA-C:1998 is available as a PDF for one-off purchase although this is only provided for ongoing projects, and new projects are recommended to use MISRA-C:2004. MISRA-C:2004 is available in both hardcopy or PDF and can be purchased from the webstore.
Can I place copies of MISRA publications on my company intranet or server?
You can license PDF versions from us for this purpose. Please enquire about costs and availability. Please note it is not permitted to scan or photocopy the documents for copyright reasons.
I downloaded the documents but can't read them
You will need Acrobat Reader 6 or above to access the documents.
Also, please ensure you save the files correctly and with the correct extension (.pdf).
We recommend you save the files to disc rather than trying to read them in a browser.
Website
Where have the downloadable documents gone?
These are now available for purchase from the webstore. Free documents are available
from the MISRA Bulletin Board (registration required).
MISRA C
What is the current version of MISRA C?
The current version is MISRA C Version 2 (MISRA-C:2004) plus Technical Corrigendum 1.
Where can I obtain the Technical Corrigendum?
This is available from the MISRA Bulletin Board (registration required). We plan to reprint MISRA C2 in the first quarter of 2008 incorporating the Technical Corrigendum text in both print and PDF versions.
Will MISRA C be updated?
Work has recently started on MISRA C Version 3 for release in approximately 2010.
What has changed in Version 2 of MISRA C?
We recognized that MISRA C is being widely used and implemented in tools and internal coding standards. In the majority of cases, the rule text has not changed substantially although a few rules have been completely revised. We have provided updated explanations and clarifications along with precise syntactic definitions for some of the rules. There is also an Examplar Suite of code examples which demonstrate the intent of the rules.
For further details see the dedicated MISRA C website.
Does the current version of MISRA C include C99?
Not at the present time as the majority of compilers used for embedded systems do not support C99. Work has recently started on MISRA C3 which will take C99 constructs into account.
What about C++? Java??
These are quite different languages from ISO/ANSI C. MISRA C++ will be published in the first quarter of 2008. We do not have a Java activity at the present time.
What tools support MISRA C?
There is a list of vendors in the "links" section who produce tools supporting MISRA C. We do not give any endorsement of tools or make specific recommendations.
Are any tools officially certified by MISRA?
MISRA does not offer a tool (or product) certification scheme. The MISRA C guidelines offer advice on how users can select and assess tools, and the Exemplar Suite is available to assist in this process. However please note the Exemplar Suite is not a conformance or certification suite.
I am a tool vendor supporting MISRA C. Can I quote the rules in my documentation?
You will need a copyright license to quote the rules and/or supporting text in any messages, documentation or help file. Please enquire for details of the formalities and prices.
Can I use MISRA C as the basis for an internal company coding standard?
Again we offer a license of the rules to cover this; please enquire for details of the formalities and prices. Alternatively you may purchase a PDF version for use as an internal standard.
Can I use MISRA C as the basis for a public coding standard?
Please contact us to discuss licensing terms for such applications. Please note you may not quote rule texts without our permission.
MISRA C Version 1 is now listed as being out of print. Will you reprint and/or release as a PDF?
MISRA C1 is now available as a PDF from the webstore. We do not plan to reprint it.
MISRA web store
How can I purchase MISRA documents?
All orders for individual copies of MISRA documents are handled through the MISRA web store. You can pay for your purchase with a credit card or debit card through a secure transaction facility, and the document will be shipped or available for download typically within 3-5 working days. You will receive email confirmation of the dispatch or availability of your order.
Please note, all orders are subject to verification by the MISRA administration, hence the 3-5 days.
Do I have to use the web store?
If you prefer not to use the web store, you can still purchase directly from MIRA using a credit card, cheque in Pounds Sterling or company Purchase Order (subject to credit check) but we regret that there is a minimum transaction of GBP 100 + VAT for such purchases.
I just made a purchase from the web store, where are my documents?
When you place your order, you will receive a confirmation from the secure shopping cart service that your order has been entered, and a confirmation from WorldPay that your payment has been processed.
When your order is dispatched, you will receive an email from "MISRA order processing" (misra (at) misra (dot) org (dot) uk) that informs you that your order has been processed. Please ensure that if you are using a junk mail filter that you can receive messages from this address.
What are the delivery times?
As all orders placed at the webstore, both hardcopy and PDF, will be reviewed prior to dispatch, you should allow 3 to 5 working days from placing your order for the dispatch email to be sent.
If you order hardcopy documents, they will be dispatched by first class post (UK) or express airmail (otherwise) and you should allow the normal delivery times for these services. Please make sure that the address you supply for delivery is correct and complete to facilitate delivery of your order. We also recommend you provide a daytime contact number so that the delivery service can contact you to arrange for delivery if necessary.
If you order PDF documents, your dispatch email contains a link for you to download your document. Please note that these PDFs are not available by any other means. The link in the email is the only way to get access to your document.
If you order hardcopy and PDF documents in the same order, the PDF will be made available at the same time as your hardcopy is dispatched. Therefore if speed of delivery of the PDF is important, we recommend you place separate orders for hardcopy and PDF.
I need a receipt, where is it?
All purchases made at the webstore will receive a receipt. Please note this typically
takes 4 to 5 weeks from the date of your purchase. The procedure is that you pay for your
purchases initially to WorldPay (who handle the payment processing) and then WorldPay
remit the funds to MIRA Ltd approximately 4 to 5 weeks later. Once these funds have been
credited into MIRA’s bank account, MIRA will issue you with a receipt. We apologize in
advance for any inconvenience caused by this processing time which is due to
circumstances outside our control and appreciate your patience. We would ask that you do
not contact us for copies of receipts unless you have not received it 8 weeks after
placing your order.
MISRA Bulletin Board
Where is the MISRA Bulletin Board?
Follow this link.
Where are the resources?
You need to register then log-in to see these. A separate forum titled "Resources" is visible to logged-in users.
Why do I have to register?
Regrettably this is necessary to prevent abuse of the forums.
Are my details (company name, email address) visible to other Bulletin Board users?
No, only the adminstrator can view this information. You can choose how much (or how little) information you make available in your profile once registered. It will however help other users if you give pertinent information about yourself in your profile e.g. your broad area of work, your experience of embedded systems.
I registered but can't log in
The adminstrator reviews all applications and activates your account. Once your account has been activated you will receive a further email confirming this.
I didn't receive my account activation email
If you are using a junk email filter please ensure you can receive messages from addresses in the mira.co.uk domain.
Occasionally it can take a few days to process applications depending on vacations etc. We apologize for any inconvenience if there is a delay activating your account. If there is a delay activating your account please do not re-register.