A genetic algorithm for test-suite reduction

In order to reduce the cost of regression testing, researchers have investigated the use of test-suite reduction techniques, which identify a reduced test suite that provides the same coverage of the software according to some criterion as the original test suite. Existing test-suite reduction techn...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xue-ying MA, Zhen-feng He, Bin-kui Sheng, Cheng-qing Ye
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Subjects:
Block-based coverage
Computer science
Costs
Educational institutions
Finance
Genetic algorithm
Genetic algorithms
Helium
Information management
Regression testing
Software algorithms
Software maintenance
Software testing
Test-execution cost
Test-suite reduction
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Description
Summary:In order to reduce the cost of regression testing, researchers have investigated the use of test-suite reduction techniques, which identify a reduced test suite that provides the same coverage of the software according to some criterion as the original test suite. Existing test-suite reduction techniques consider test-case coverage criteria, other criteria such as risk or fault-detection effectiveness, or combinations of these criteria, but ignore the test-execution cost because of the complexity. Firstly, this paper presents a mathematical model for this test-suite reduction problem and transforms it into a linear integer-programming form. Then the paper investigates the use of an evolutionary approach, called genetic algorithm, for this test-suite reduction problem. Unlike other algorithms, our algorithm uses a new criteria, which is a combination of a block based coverage criteria and a test-execution cost criteria, to make decisions about reducing a test suite. Finally, the paper presents the results of the empirical studies of our algorithm. The studies show that our algorithm can significantly reduce the size and the cost of the test-suite for regression testing, and the test-execution cost is one of the most important features that must be taken into consideration for test-suite reduction.
ISSN:1062-922X
2577-1655
DOI:10.1109/ICSMC.2005.1571134