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Structural testing criteria for message‐passing parallel programs
Author(s) -
Souza S. R. S.,
Vergilio S. R.,
Souza P. S. L.,
Simão A. S.,
Hausen A. C.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
concurrency and computation: practice and experience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.309
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1532-0634
pISSN - 1532-0626
DOI - 10.1002/cpe.1297
Subject(s) - computer science , message passing , concurrency , set (abstract data type) , synchronization (alternating current) , interface (matter) , message passing interface , distributed computing , parallel computing , programming language , computer network , channel (broadcasting) , bubble , maximum bubble pressure method
Parallel programs present some features such as concurrency, communication and synchronization that make the test a challenging activity. Because of these characteristics, the direct application of traditional testing is not always possible and adequate testing criteria and tools are necessary. In this paper we investigate the challenges of validating message‐passing parallel programs and present a set of specific testing criteria. We introduce a family of structural testing criteria based on a test model. The model captures control and data flow of the message‐passing programs, by considering their sequential and parallel aspects. The criteria provide a coverage measure that can be used for evaluating the progress of the testing activity and also provide guidelines for the generation of test data. We also describe a tool, called ValiPar, which supports the application of the proposed testing criteria. Currently, ValiPar is configured for parallel virtual machine (PVM) and message‐passing interface (MPI). Results of the application of the proposed criteria to MPI programs are also presented and analyzed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.