Towards the prioritization of regression test suites with data flow information

Regression test prioritization techniques re-order the execution of a test suite in an attempt to ensure that defects are revealed earlier in the test execution phase. In prior work, test suites were prioritized with respect to their ability to satisfy control flow-based and mutation-based test adequacy criteria. In this paper, we propose an approach to regression test prioritization that leverages the all-DUs test adequacy criterion that focuses on the definition and use of variables within the program under test. Our prioritization scheme is motivated by empirical studies that have shown that (i) tests fulfilling the all-DUs test adequacy criteria are more likely to reveal defects than those that meet the control flow-based criteria, (ii) there is an unclear relationship between all-DUs and mutation-based criteria, and (iii) mutation-based testing is significantly more expensive than testing that relies upon all-DUs. In support of our prioritization technique, we provide a form...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2005
• Where: SAC
• Authors: Matthew J. Rummel, Gregory M. Kapfhammer, Andrew Thall
• Keywords: Applied Computing, Regression Test Prioritization, SAC 2005, Test Adequacy, Test Suite