Skip to main content

A framework for testing object oriented software using formal specifications

  • Verification and Validation
  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Reliable Software Technologies — Ada-Europe '96 (Ada-Europe 1996)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 1088))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

In this paper we develop a framework for semi-automated generation of test cases for object oriented programs from formal specifications. “We use Object-Z as the formal specification language.

We have designed and prototyped a test system called OℤTEST. It understands the characteristics of object-oriented specifications including inheritance. OℤTEST maps the specification to a corresponding implementation. Test shells generated from the given Object-Z specification are stored as test scripts. OℤTEST chooses the test shells to be executed in a particular test-session based on user given criteria. A test class is created by inheriting from the class being tested. The child class thus has all the features of the class being tested, in addition to the routines to test the parent. The results of the test are stored in a file for verification.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Nina Amla and Paul Ammann. Using Z specifications in category partition testing. In Compass 1992 Proceedings of the annual conference on computer assurance, pages 3–10, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  2. David Carrington and Phil Stocks. A tale of two paradigms: Formal methods and software testing. Technical report, Software Verification Research Center, Department of Computer Science, The University of Queensland, Queensland 4072, February 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Antoni Diller. Z—An Introduction to Formal Methods. John Wiley and Sons Ltd., Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1UD, England, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Roong-Ko Doong and Phyllis G Frankl. The ASTOOT approach to testing object object-oriented programs. ACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology, 3(2):101–30, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Roger Duke, Paul King, Gordon Rose, and Graeme Smith. The Object-Z specification language: Version 1. Technical report, Sofware Verification Research Center: Department of Computer Science, The University of Queensland Queensland 4072 Australia, May 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Rohan Schreiber Fletcher. Testing of object-oriented software using formal specifications. Master Thesis, Department of Software Development, Monash University:260, November 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Pankaj Jalote. Testing the completeness of specifications. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, 15(5):526–31, May 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Shekhar Kirani and W T Tsai. Specification and verification of object-oriented programs. Technical report, Computer Science Department, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, December 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Gilbert Laycock. Formal specifications and testing: a case study. Software Testing, Verification and Reliability, 2(l):7–23, May 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Bertrand Meyer. Eiffel The Language. Prentice Hall International, Campus 400, Maylands Avenue, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 7EL, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  11. M. D. Smith and D. J. Robson. A framework for testing object-oriented programs. Journal of Object-Oriented Programming, 5(3):45–53, June 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  12. C D Turner and D J Robson. State-based testing and inheritance TR 1/93. Technical report, Computer Science Division, School of Engineering and Computer Science(SECS), University of Durham, Durham, England, April 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  13. C D Turner and D J Robson. A suite of tools for the state-based testing of object-oriented programs TR-14/92. Technical report, Computer Science Division, School of Engineering and Computer Science(SECS), University of Durham, Durham, England, April 1993.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Alfred Strohmeier

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1996 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Fletcher, R., Sajeev, A.S.M. (1996). A framework for testing object oriented software using formal specifications. In: Strohmeier, A. (eds) Reliable Software Technologies — Ada-Europe '96. Ada-Europe 1996. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 1088. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0013486

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0013486

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-61317-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-68457-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics