Software-of-unknown-pedigree

Software-of-unknown-pedigree (SOUP) is a term often used in the milieu of safety-critical and safety-involved systems. SOUP is software that has not been developed to known standards; software which has unknown or no safety-related properties.

The problem with SOUP is that (a) it cannot be relied upon to perform safety-related functions, and (b) it may prevent other software, hardware or firmware from performing their safety-related functions. The SOUP problem is one of insulating the safety-involved parts of a system from the SOUP and its undesirable effects.