Using Test Oracles Generated from Program Documentation
Dennis K. Peters
and David L. Parnas
CRL, McMaster University, Hamilton ON, Canada
Abstract
This paper illustrates how software can be described precisely using
LD-relations, how these descriptions can be presented in a
readable manner using tabular notations, and one way such descriptions
can be used to test programs.
We describe an algorithm that can be used to generate a test oracle from
program documentation, and present the results of using a tool based on
it to help test part of a commercial network management application.
The results demonstrate
that these methods can be effective at detecting errors and greatly
increase the speed and accuracy of test evaluation when compared with manual
evaluation. Such oracles can be used for unit testing, in situ
testing, constructing self-checking software and ensuring consistency
between code and documentation.
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Last modified:
Sun 1999.01.03 at 15:25 NST
by Dennis Peters