Feature

Requirements traceability before the model gets too big to understand

Cairn helps engineers keep requirements connected to the system model. Requirements can be linked to the nodes that satisfy them, the verifications that test them, and the related artifacts that depend on them.

Traceability should not be a spreadsheet you rebuild before every review. It should live with the model.

What you bring

  • Requirements attached to model nodes
  • Verification intent
  • Known dependencies
  • Interface and architecture context

What Cairn creates

  • Requirement ownership by node
  • Trace links such as satisfies, implements, verifies, derives, and depends_on
  • Verification coverage
  • Relationship confidence and status
  • Change history for model evolution

What this helps you do

Traceability fails when requirements, architecture, interfaces, and verification plans live in separate tools. Cairn keeps those relationships in one model so you can see coverage, gaps, and connections while the system is still evolving.

Why this is different from a spreadsheet

A spreadsheet can list requirements and status, but it does not understand the system. Cairn stores relationships between typed model artifacts, making traceability navigable and inspectable instead of manually reconstructed.

FAQ

Can Cairn show untraced requirements?

Yes. Traceability and quality views can identify gaps and incomplete coverage.

Can I use Cairn before formal requirements management?

Yes. Cairn is designed for the early phase when the team needs structure before heavy enterprise tooling.

Does Cairn replace DOORS?

No. Cairn is not a full enterprise requirements database replacement. It is useful earlier, when the model is being formed and relationships need to become visible.