ComTest: A Tool to Impart TDD and Unit Testing to Introductory Level Programming

摘要

Research has noticed that imparting TDD-like testing to an early computing curriculum is challenging because it in-creases technical and cognitive load for the students. This paper addresses the challenge with a software-based solu-tion constructed to facilitate the process of writing tests. The solution allows using a compact while efficient syntax for formulating tests, writing tests into JavaDoc comments, thus close to the source code that implements intended func-tionalities, and automates the generation of actual test code. The constructed solution — the ComTest tool — has now been used in four introductory level programming course offerings. The paper presents the tool and concludes with initial lessons learned.