Performing regression tests based on test case effectiveness

摘要

A method for performing a regression test on a software application is proposed. The regression test involves the execution of a subset of selected test cases on the software application (among all the ones being available). In the proposed solution, the selection of the test cases to be regressed is performed according to an effectiveness-based criterion. For this purpose, an effectiveness index of each test case is calculated according to its results being obtained during previous executions of the test case; preferably, the effectiveness index is based on the frequency of negative results of the test case (and secondarily on their variability and recency). The test cases whose effectiveness indexes reach a predefined threshold are then selected for running the regression test (on the assumption that they should be more effective in detecting errors of the software application).