Software dissimilarity debate revisited

This paper highlights the controversy surrounding the use of dissimilarity for improved safety. It compares dissimilarity at the system level versus software level and uses examples from the commercial and military safety-critical standards to highlight this controversy. It proposes a solution by identifying those systems which can find dissimilarity beneficial and those that may find dissimilarity detrimental regardless of whether dissimilarity is implemented at the system level or at the software level. Practical examples are cited to highlight how these concepts can be used in the real-world.