Add covers flag to meta model to link aou

.gitignore

@@ -26,3 +26,4 @@ __pycache__/
 
 # bug: This file is created in repo root on test discovery.
 /consumer_test.log
+/.clwb

docs/internals/extensions/metamodel.md

@@ -44,6 +44,44 @@ extensions = [
 ]
 ```
 
+## SEooC Traceability and AoU Linking
+
+### Overview
+Safety Element Out of Context (SEooC) development requires comprehensive traceability across three dimensions:
+1. **Requirements** (what must be done)
+2. **Architecture** (how it's structured)
+3. **Verification** (proof it works)
+
+Assumptions of Use (AoU) are central to this model, as they capture the operational context and constraints that validate the safety case.
+
+### The Traceability Chain
+The `covers` link type establishes the connection between requirements and their operational assumptions:
+
+```
+Stakeholder Requirement
+    ↓ satisfies
+Feature Requirement
+    ↓ covers
+Assumption of Use (AoU)        ← defines operational context & constraints
+    ↓ (informs architecture)
+Component Requirement
+    ↓ fulfils
+Component Architecture
+    ↓ implements
+Source Code
+    ↓ testlink / source_code_link
+Verification Evidence
+```
+
+### Why AoU Matters
+- **Safety context**: AoU captures assumptions that validate the safety chain
+- **Integration risk**: External component assumptions must be explicitly covered
+- **Traceability**: Links features to the operational context they depend on
+
+**Process Reference**: [gd_req__req_linkage_aou](https://github.com/eclipse-score/process_description/blob/main/process/process_areas/requirements_engineering/guidance/requirements_process_reqs.rst#gd_req__req_linkage_aou)
+- Feature and component requirements SHALL link to AoU via the `covers` link type
+- Bi-directional traceability via `covered_by` back-link
+
 ## need types
 
 Each type of needs is defined in the `needs_types` section of the `metamodel.yaml` file. Each need type has attributes, links, tags, and other properties that define its structure and behavior within the documentation system.

docs/internals/requirements/requirements.rst

@@ -545,6 +545,39 @@ Versioning
   .. note::
       Certain tool requirements do not have a matching process requirement.
 
+.. tool_req:: Enables needs linking via covers attribute (Requirements to AoU)
+  :id: tool_req__docs_req_link_covers_aou
+  :tags: Requirements
+  :implemented: YES
+  :version: 1
+  :satisfies: gd_req__req_linkage_aou
+  :parent_covered: YES
+  :status: valid
+
+  Docs-as-Code shall support the ``covers`` link type to establish traceability between
+  requirements and their Assumptions of Use (AoU), per SCORE process specification.
+
+  **Purpose**: In SEooC (Safety Element Out of Context) development, AoU capture the
+  operational context and constraints that validate safety cases. Requirements "cover"
+  (are bound to) specific assumptions.
+
+  **Allowed connections**:
+
+  .. table::
+     :widths: auto
+
+     ================================ ========================================================
+     Source Type                      Link Type  Target Type
+     ================================ ========================================================
+     Feature Requirements             covers     Assumptions of Use (AoU)
+     Component Requirements           covers     Assumptions of Use (AoU)
+     ================================ ========================================================
+
+  **Traceability chain**: Stakeholder Req → Feature Req → (covers) → AoU → Component Req
+
+  **Process reference**: :need:`gd_req__req_linkage_aou` — Requirements SHALL be linked to AoU
+  via covers if they already cover these.
+
 .. tool_req:: Safety: enforce safe linking
    :id: tool_req__docs_common_attr_safety_link_check
    :tags: Common Attributes

src/extensions/score_metamodel/metamodel.yaml

@@ -306,6 +306,8 @@ needs_types:
       valid_until: ^v(0|[1-9]\d*)\.(0|[1-9]\d*)(\.(0|[1-9]\d*))?$
     optional_links:
       belongs_to: feat # for evaluation
+      # req-Id: tool_req__docs_req_link_covers_aou
+      covers: aou_req
     tags:
       - requirement
       - requirement_excl_process
@@ -336,6 +338,9 @@ needs_types:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_req_attr_testcov
       testcovered: ^(YES|NO)$
       hash: ^.*$
+    optional_links:
+      # req-Id: tool_req__docs_req_link_covers_aou
+      covers: aou_req
     tags:
       - requirement
       - requirement_excl_process
@@ -943,6 +948,12 @@ needs_extra_links:
     incoming: fulfilled by
     outgoing: fulfils
 
+  covers:
+    incoming: covered by
+    outgoing: covers
+    # req-Id: gd_req__req_linkage_aou
+    # Requirement-to-AoU linking per SCORE process specification
+
   implements:
     incoming: implemented by
     outgoing: implements

src/extensions/score_metamodel/tests/rst/options/test_options_covers_link.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+..
+   # *******************************************************************************
+   # Copyright (c) 2026 Contributors to the Eclipse Foundation
+   #
+   # See the NOTICE file(s) distributed with this work for additional
+   # information regarding copyright ownership.
+   #
+   # This program and the accompanying materials are made available under the
+   # terms of the Apache License Version 2.0 which is available at
+   # https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+   #
+   # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+   # *******************************************************************************
+
+#CHECK: check_options
+
+.. Tests that `covers` on feat_req and comp_req only allows aou_req as target.
+.. req-Id: tool_req__docs_req_link_covers_aou
+
+.. aou_req:: AoU target for covers tests
+   :id: aou_req__covers__target
+   :reqtype: Functional
+   :security: NO
+   :safety: QM
+   :status: valid
+
+   AoU content used for covers-link validation tests.
+
+
+.. stkh_req:: Parent stakeholder requirement for covers tests
+   :id: stkh_req__covers__parent
+   :reqtype: Functional
+   :security: NO
+   :safety: QM
+   :status: valid
+   :rationale: Stakeholder parent rationale for covers-link tests.
+
+
+.. feat_req:: Parent feature requirement for covers tests
+   :id: feat_req__covers__parent
+   :reqtype: Functional
+   :security: NO
+   :safety: QM
+   :status: valid
+   :satisfies: stkh_req__covers__parent
+
+   Parent feature requirement used by covers-link tests.
+
+
+.. Positive Test: feat_req pointing to an aou_req via covers is valid.
+#EXPECT-NOT: feat_req__covers__good_1.covers (['aou_req__covers__target']): does not follow pattern `^aou_req__.*$`.
+
+.. feat_req:: Feature requirement with valid covers link
+   :id: feat_req__covers__good_1
+   :reqtype: Functional
+   :security: NO
+   :safety: QM
+   :status: valid
+   :satisfies: stkh_req__covers__parent
+   :covers: aou_req__covers__target
+
+   Valid feat_req that covers an AoU requirement.
+
+
+.. Positive Test: comp_req pointing to an aou_req via covers is valid.
+#EXPECT-NOT: comp_req__covers__good_1.covers (['aou_req__covers__target']): does not follow pattern `^aou_req__.*$`.
+
+.. comp_req:: Component requirement with valid covers link
+   :id: comp_req__covers__good_1
+   :reqtype: Functional
+   :security: NO
+   :safety: QM
+   :status: valid
+   :satisfies: feat_req__covers__parent
+   :belongs_to: comp__covers__parent
+   :covers: aou_req__covers__target
+
+   Valid comp_req that covers an AoU requirement.
+
+
+.. feat:: Feature for covers tests
+   :id: feat__covers__parent
+   :security: NO
+   :safety: QM
+   :status: valid