research-article

Automated Test Case Generation for Programs Specified by Relational Algebra Queries

Authors:

W. T. Tsai,

Dmitry Volovik,

Thomas F. KeefeAuthors Info & Claims

IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, Volume 16, Issue 3

Pages 316 - 324

https://doi.org/10.1109/32.48939

Published: 01 March 1990 Publication History

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Abstract

Black-box software testing requires test cases to be generated from specifications alone. However, it is impossible to automate the process completely for arbitrary specifications. Specifications are thus restricted to being written entirely in terms of relational algebra expressions. An automated test case generation method is developed for such specifications.

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Cited By

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Cui KZhou KQiu TLi MYan L(2017)A hierarchical combinatorial testing method for smart phone software in wearable IoT systemsComputers and Electrical Engineering10.1016/j.compeleceng.2017.06.00461:C(250-265)Online publication date: 1-Jul-2017
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Automated Test Case Generation for Programs Specified by Relational Algebra Queries

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Reviews

Reviewer: Jagdish C. Agrawal

The authors method for automated test case generation for programs specified by relational algebra (RA) queries is based on work in domain testing theory [1– 3]. After reviewing some background information on RA, this paper presents a method for transforming RA queries into predicates and then into systems of linear inequalities to generate test cases for RA queries based on domain testing theory. The method of test case generation has been implemented using a combination of modules coded in Prolog and Pascal. The authors cite results from experiments in which their method was applied to generate black-box databases to test each query. To test the effectiveness of the small random databases in detecting faults in the implementations of queries, the authors conducted three-part validation experiments: Mutations were introduced in the code implementing a query, Mutated code was compiled and executed with random black-box databases as inputs, and The answers were compared against the answers produced by the unmutated (correct) code. The authors summarize the results of the validation in tabular form.

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cover image IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering

IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering Volume 16, Issue 3

March 1990

111 pages

ISSN:0098-5589

Editor:
Victor R. Basili
Univ. of Maryland, College Park

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IEEE Press

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Published: 01 March 1990

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Cui KZhou KQiu TLi MYan L(2017)A hierarchical combinatorial testing method for smart phone software in wearable IoT systemsComputers and Electrical Engineering10.1016/j.compeleceng.2017.06.00461:C(250-265)Online publication date: 1-Jul-2017
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.compeleceng.2017.06.004
Tuya JRiva CSuarez-Cabal MBlanco R(2016)Coverage-Aware Test Database ReductionIEEE Transactions on Software Engineering10.1109/TSE.2016.251903242:10(941-959)Online publication date: 1-Oct-2016
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de la Riva CSuárez-Cabal MTuya JZhu HChan WBudnik CKapfhammer G(2010)Constraint-based test database generation for SQL queriesProceedings of the 5th Workshop on Automation of Software Test10.1145/1808266.1808276(67-74)Online publication date: 3-May-2010
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Ye JZhan ZJin CZhang Q(2009)A Software Test Cases Automated Generation Algorithm Based on Immune PrinciplesProceedings of the 6th International Conference on Autonomic and Trusted Computing10.1007/978-3-642-02704-8_6(62-74)Online publication date: 30-Jun-2009
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Deng YFrankl PChays DRoman GGriswold WNuseibeh B(2005)Testing database transactions with AGENDAProceedings of the 27th international conference on Software engineering10.1145/1062455.1062486(78-87)Online publication date: 15-May-2005
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Chen TLau M(2003)On the divide-and-conquer approach towards test suite reductionInformation Sciences: an International Journal10.1016/S0020-0255(03)00060-4152:1(89-119)Online publication date: 1-Jun-2003
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Taylor BCukic B(2000)Evaluation of Regressive Methods for Automated Generation of Test TrajectoriesProceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Software Reliability Engineering10.5555/851024.856241Online publication date: 8-Oct-2000
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Zhu HHall PMay J(1997)Software unit test coverage and adequacyACM Computing Surveys10.1145/267580.26759029:4(366-427)Online publication date: 1-Dec-1997
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Bergadano F(1993)Test case generation by means of learning techniquesProceedings of the 1st ACM SIGSOFT symposium on Foundations of software engineering10.1145/256428.167074(149-162)Online publication date: 1-Dec-1993
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Abstract

References

Cited By

Index Terms

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Formal test specifications in open systems

Assertion-oriented automated test data generation

A specification-based adaptive test case generation strategy for open operating system standards

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