Methodology for the Effective Test Case Selection. Phase III.

摘要

The intent of the Effective Test Case Selection Project is to explore and develop methodologies for improving the tasks of computer program analysis and testing. This research effort explores in detail the problem of providing automated assistance in the selection and construction of meaningful test cases for computer applications programs. Key issues involve the identification of criteria for grouping together similar program paths,and a means of reducing the number of paths through a program which need to be analyzed to ensure correctness. The investigation has lead to design of a general methodology addressing this problem. Phase III of this research has resulted in the completion of a prototype software testing tool called DISSECT. The DISSECT system addresses the general methodology as well as the design and implementation of additional features whose importance was indicated by experiments with an initial Phase II system. DISSECT provides capabilities to analyze FORTRAN program paths and to symbolically evaluate the potential execution results. Commands are available to select program paths based upon branches and number of loop iterations,and to select DISSECT outputs such as path descriptions or the set of input predicates that cause paths to be followed. DISSECT is an experimental program,written in LISP for a Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-10computer. Portions of this document are not fully legible.