Metadata-Based Regression Testing Techniques For Component-Based Software

CBSD represents a paradigm shift in software development:from building monolithic,single-platform,built-from-scratch systems to constructing assemblies of ready-made components that are platform-independent and supplied by third-parties. This new software development paradigm provides an effective way to increase software production,and has been a hot topic in today's software engineering.However,Component-Based Software(CBS) presents new challenges to traditional software testing,that is,reusable component must be integrated into a new working environment,which usually needs to check,diagnose,and handle software error at real time.Component suppliers and users have to exchange a variety of information such as component functions and usage conditions in the development procedure and in developing a system by using this component.However,the exchange of this information is condition due to various reasons.Component providers and users are facing the problem of insufficient information.Lack of information will lead to all kinds of difficulties,for example,component user can't generate test cases without source code,so we have no choice but to require component providers testing the component.But a fully tested component does not mean that the quality of the component is 100%guaranteed,in particular in a new working environment.So component users are expected to do testing too,but it is difficult for component users to test components in case of lack information.This paper proposes a method for component-based software regression testing from the perspective of component users.The idea is that component providers publish metadata describing component functions or behavior constraints,and component users use these metadata to test components in new working environment.To do so,we propose various metadata,implement dynamic checking of component behavior constraints,and improve the CPM method to select test cases by using metadata information.The experimental results show that the improved CPM can select fewer test cases for component regression testing.This enhances the efficiency of regression testing.