International audienceIn the framework of the AGATA program, we applied a model-based development process founded on a living UML specification to produce the RT-Java code of the AGATA onboard software. Derived from classical V-shaped production cycle, our development process benefited from several model-based engineering methods, such as model-debugging and automated code generation. Our resulting Y-shaped production cycle enabled an incremental development process that allowed us to start software validation early in the process. Despite the complexity of the AGATA onboard software we thereby manage to achieve its functional validation and were able to evaluate RT-Java (Real-Time Java Specification-RTSJ) for real-time space applications
