An approach for selective state machine based regression testing

• Main Authors: Farooq, Qurat-ul-ann, Iqbal, Muhammad Zohaib Z., Malik, Zafar I, Nadeem, Aamer
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Software and its engineering; Software and its engineering > Software creation and management; Software and its engineering > Software creation and management > Software verification and validation; Software and its engineering > Software creation and management > Software verification and validation > Software defect analysis; Software and its engineering > Software creation and management > Software verification and validation > Software defect analysis > Software testing and debugging
• ISSN: 1040-550X
• DOI: 10.1145/1291535.1291540

Model-based regression testing is an important activity that ensures the reliability of evolving software. One of the major issues in this type of testing is the optimal selection of test-cases to test the affected portion of the software. In this paper, we present a UML based selective regression testing strategy that uses state machines and class diagrams for change identification. We identify the changes using the UML 2.1 semantics of state machines and class diagram. The changes are classified as Class-driven (obtained from class diagram) and State-driven (obtained from state machine). The Class-driven changes are important as these changes are not reflected on the state machines and they might be helpful in identifying some fault-revealing test cases. With the help of the identified changes, we classify the test cases of the test suite as Obsolete, Reusable, and Retestable. We apply the approach on a case study to demonstrate its validity.