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ClassBench: a Framework for Automated Class Testing
Author(s) -
HOFFMAN DANIEL,
STROOPER PAUL
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
software: practice and experience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1097-024X
pISSN - 0038-0644
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-024x(199705)27:5<573::aid-spe98>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - computer science , oracle , debugging , class (philosophy) , programming language , regression testing , simple (philosophy) , tree traversal , test case , test (biology) , keyword driven testing , system under test , white box testing , variety (cybernetics) , model based testing , test management approach , software engineering , artificial intelligence , machine learning , software , software development , regression analysis , paleontology , software construction , philosophy , epistemology , biology
In contrast to the explosion of activity in object‐oriented design and programming, little attention has been given to object testing. We present a novel approach to automated testing designed especially for collection classes. In the ClassBench methodology, a testgraph partially models the states and transitions of the Class‐Under‐Test (CUT) state/transition graph. To determine the expected behavior for the test cases generated from the testgraph, the tester develops an oracle class, providing essentially the same operations as the CUT but supporting only the testgraph states and transitions. Surprisingly thorough testing is achievable with simple testgraphs and oracles. The ClassBench framework supports the tester by providing a testgraph editor, automated testgraph traversal, and a variety of utility classes. Test suites can be easily configured for regression testing–where many test cases are run–and debugging–where a few test cases are selected to isolate the bug. We present the ClassBench methodology and framework in detail, illustrated on both simple examples and on test suites from commercial collection class libraries. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.