embeddedtoolchainproduct update

How Embedded Software Teams Should Respond to Vector’s RocqStat Acquisition

UUnknown

2026-02-20

10 min read

Practical guide for VectorCAST teams to adopt RocqStat for WCET and timing analysis—30–90 day plan, CI integration, and verification best practices.

Stop juggling verification tools — adopt RocqStat where it matters

Embedded engineering ops teams face constant pressure from fragmented toolchains, opaque timing evidence, and rising regulatory demands. If your team uses VectorCAST today, the January 2026 acquisition of StatInf’s RocqStat by Vector (reported by Automotive World) creates a rare opportunity: a path to unify static timing and WCET estimation with your existing test and verification workflows. This article gives practical, step-by-step recommendations for engineering ops teams to adopt RocqStat capabilities with VectorCAST for more reliable timing analysis, repeatable WCET evidence, and faster verification cycles.

Why this matters now (2026 context)

Late 2025 and early 2026 have seen three converging trends that make RocqStat adoption a priority for embedded teams:

Increased scrutiny on timing safety for software-defined vehicles and robotics—programs now demand deterministic evidence earlier in the lifecycle.
Shift-left verification and CI/CD for embedded software mature—teams must integrate timing proof into automated pipelines instead of leaving it to late-stage manual steps.
Hybrid WCET approaches (static analysis + measurement) gain traction for multicore systems, and vendors are consolidating capabilities into unified toolchains for traceability.

Vector’s move to integrate RocqStat into VectorCAST aims to deliver that consolidated path. As Automotive World summarized:

"Vector will integrate RocqStat into its VectorCAST toolchain to unify timing analysis and software verification." (Automotive World, Jan 2026)

Executive summary — What engineering ops should do first

Run a 30-day assessment to catalog timing risk areas and CI readiness.
Execute a 60-day pilot integrating RocqStat with a VectorCAST test project and a representative target (simulator/HIL).
Roll out a 90-day production plan for pipeline integration, artifacts, and certification evidence templates.

Below are concrete playbook steps, technical integration patterns, verification workflows, and KPIs you can implement immediately.

30-Day assessment: map the risks and readiness

Before adding new tooling, understand where timing problems create product risk and how ready your CI and test infra are to accept timing evidence.

Assessment checklist (practical)

Inventory timing-critical functions: list tasks/threads with real-time deadlines, interrupt paths, and scheduling constraints.
Current WCET evidence: collect existing static WCET reports, measurement logs, and gap areas.
Hardware coverage: identify target MCUs, cores, caches, and whether multicore interference is a concern.
CI/CD readiness: check build reproducibility, artifact storage, HIL/DUT automation, and test harness availability.
Traceability map: map tests, requirements, and verification artifacts that must reference WCET results for certification (ISO 26262, DO-178C, etc.).
Stakeholders & roles: list owners from FW, QA, syseng, DevOps, and compliance who must sign-off on timing evidence.

Deliverable: a 1–2 page assessment summarizing risk priorities and a prioritized pilot candidate function list.

60-Day pilot: integrate RocqStat into VectorCAST

The pilot proves the technical flow: extract execution models, run static/measurement-based WCET, and publish results into VectorCAST verification artifacts.

Pilot architecture (recommended)

Source repo + VectorCAST build triggered in CI (containerized build agents).
Instrumentation step: compile testable units with coverage/timing hooks where needed.
Execute unit/integration tests on a deterministic target (instruction-accurate simulator or instrumented HIL run).
Collect execution traces and measurement logs into an artifact repo.
Feed the static model and measurements to RocqStat for WCET estimation.
Attach RocqStat results to VectorCAST test cases and requirement traces; gate merges on timing verification status.

Step-by-step pilot tasks

Configure a representative testbench: select 2–3 timing-critical modules. Create deterministic inputs and harnesses in VectorCAST.
Instrument deterministically: prefer compiler flags that preserve timings and enable trace capture (map these flags in a reproducible Docker image).
Generate control-flow model: use RocqStat’s static analyzers to create the control-flow and micro-architectural models for the target processor.
Run measurement campaigns: automate multiple runs across input sets and operating modes to collect execution times; store all raw logs.
Run RocqStat WCET flow: combine static model + measurements to produce WCET bounds and sensitivity analysis (e.g., cache, pipeline effects).
Integrate outputs into VectorCAST: attach WCET numbers as properties on tests and use VectorCAST to generate combined verification reports.

Success criteria: reproducible WCET reports from RocqStat, VectorCAST reports referencing those results, and an automated CI job that completes end-to-end in the pilot environment.

90-Day rollout: productionize, govern, and scale

Once the pilot proves repeatability, expand to more modules, enforce gating, and establish governance artifacts for audits and certification.

Production rollout checklist

Pipeline templates: create CI templates that encapsulate build flags, instrumentation, RocqStat invocation, and artifact publishing.
Artifact management: version-control WCET reports, raw measurements, and static models to ensure auditability.
Verification templates: update VectorCAST verification templates to include WCET fields and pass/fail logic based on system deadlines.
Traceability ledger: maintain requirement ↔ test ↔ WCET evidence mapping for certification submissions.
Training & playbooks: train FW engineers, verification engineers, and DevOps on running RocqStat flows and interpreting sensitivity outputs.
Governance & approvals: define sign-off workflows for timing evidence and how changes to code or HW affect WCET re-assessment.

Technical best practices when combining VectorCAST + RocqStat

1. Prefer hybrid WCET: static models plus measurement

Pure static or pure measurement approaches both have limits. RocqStat’s hybrid approach uses static control-flow models augmented with measurements to calibrate micro-architectural effects. That yields defensible, tighter bounds—especially for multicore or cache-heavy targets.

2. Maintain deterministic build environments

Timing evidence is only trustworthy when the build and tool versions are reproducible. Use container images for VectorCAST builds and RocqStat runs, lock compiler/toolchain versions, and snapshot artifacts in an immutable artifact registry.

3. Automate measurement campaigns

Create test suites that explore operational input spaces. Automate randomized seeds and stress tests to exercise rare code paths. Save raw traces for later sensitivity or root-cause analysis.

4. Merge timing results into verification artifacts

Attach WCET numbers to VectorCAST tests and requirement links. Use VectorCAST report templates to include timing evidence—this speeds audits and reduces back-and-forth with functional safety assessors.

5. Treat timing as part of CI gating

Set soft gates for development (alerts) and harder gates for release branches (must pass timing budgets). Use incremental analysis: only re-run RocqStat on changed modules to save compute time.

Integration patterns and pipeline examples

Below are two common integration patterns you can choose depending on resource constraints.

Pattern A — Developer-friendly (fast feedback)

Scope: Unit-level timing checks in developer branches.
Flow: VectorCAST unit tests on instruction-accurate simulator → quick RocqStat static run (lightweight) → publish flags to MR comments.
Use when you need rapid developer feedback and can accept looser bounds pending full runs.

Pattern B — Release-grade (high assurance)

Scope: System-level timing for release candidates, hardware-on-loop (HIL).
Flow: Full build on release CI → VectorCAST test matrix on HIL → prolonged measurement campaign → full RocqStat hybrid WCET estimation → attach to VectorCAST verification report and gate release.
Use when certification or safety evidence is required.

KPIs and metrics to track success

Define measurable outcomes to show value from adopting RocqStat capabilities:

WCET margin: track the delta between observed max execution time and guaranteed WCET across releases.
Time-to-evidence: average time to produce a WCET report per module (target reduce by 30–50% after automation).
Regression rate: number of timing regressions caught in CI vs. production late-stage findings.
Audit readiness: fraction of requirements with attached WCET evidence and traceability artifacts.
Cost per proof: compute-hours spent per WCET estimation; automation should lower this over time.

Case example (illustrative)

Team X (automotive SOC project) implemented the pilot on a braking control module. In 60 days they automated instrumentation, ran RocqStat hybrid analysis, and linked WCET outputs into VectorCAST reports. Outcome: WCET evidence generation time dropped from 5 days/manual to 8 hours/automated; timing regressions were caught pre-merge; audit traceability improved dramatically. This pattern is repeatable for other teams migrating to unified timing + verification workflows in 2026.

Common adoption pitfalls and how to avoid them

Skipping the model-validation step: Always validate RocqStat’s control-flow model against measured traces; mismatch here leads to bad bounds.
Ignoring hardware interference: For multicore targets, account for interruption and inter-core interference explicitly in both measurement and static modeling.
Assuming one-size-fits-all: Different modules need different granularity of WCET; don’t run full system WCET on every dev cycle.
Undocumented artifacts: Save raw logs, model files, and RocqStat reports; auditors will ask for them. Integrate artifact retention into your CI policies.

Security, licensing, and continuity considerations

Vector’s acquisition includes the StatInf team and their tech, and the company has stated business continuity for existing customers. Engineering ops teams should still:

Confirm licensing terms for RocqStat features in your VectorCAST agreement and note any migration path for legacy StatInf customers.
Validate data handling policies for measurement traces—these are sensitive (IP and PII may be present in test inputs) and should be stored encrypted with access logging.
Plan for long-term toolchain maintenance: lock tool versions in artifact manifests and contingency for support escalation paths.

Future-proofing: where timing verification is headed in 2026+

Expect these developments to influence your adoption roadmap:

AI-assisted analysis: machine learning will accelerate pattern detection in measurement campaigns and suggest coverage gaps.
Cloud-assisted heavy computations: WCET runs that require large static analyses may move to burstable cloud instances with secure enclaves for IP protection.
Tighter integration with model-based design: timing proofs will increasingly be tied to design models (Simulink/Scade) and round-tripped into verification tools.
Standards convergence: regulators will expect combined static/measurement evidence for timing-sensitive functions, and toolchains that provide end-to-end traceability will be preferred.

Recommended 30-60-90 day playbook (summary)

Days 0–30: inventory timing-critical code, CI readiness, stakeholder map, choose pilot modules.
Days 31–60: run pilot (VectorCAST + RocqStat) on representative hardware/simulator; validate model, collect measurements, produce WCET reports.
Days 61–90: create CI templates, artifact retention rules, verification templates, training sessions, and enforce gating for release branches.

Final recommendations — practical next steps for engineering ops

Start small but instrument everything: choose high-risk modules for early wins.
Automate the repeatable pieces — builds, measurements, and report publishing.
Embed traceability into your VectorCAST templates now so auditors find everything in one place.
Measure ROI with clear KPIs and refine your gating policy based on risk posture.
Engage with Vector/StatInf teams early for best-practice patterns and migration guidance (the acquisition includes continuity commitments for existing customers as reported by Automotive World).

Closing — why acting now pays off

Vector’s acquisition of RocqStat is more than a product update — it’s an inflection point for teams that want timing verification to be first-class, automated, and auditable. For engineering ops teams using VectorCAST, adopting RocqStat capabilities lets you reduce late-stage surprises, shorten time-to-evidence, and produce stronger, certifiable timing arguments. The practical playbook above (30/60/90) gives you a fast path to prove value and scale with confidence.

"Integrating timing analysis into the verification toolchain is the sensible next step for safety-critical embedded development in 2026."

Call to action: Start your adoption assessment this week: run the 30-day inventory, pick one high-risk module for a VectorCAST + RocqStat pilot, and create a CI job template. If you’d like a hands-on checklist or a 90-day rollout template tailored to your stack, request our free implementation playbook to accelerate integration and audit preparedness.

Unknown

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.