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A Test Specification Language for Information Systems Based on Data Entities, Use Cases and State Machines

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Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development (MODELSWARD 2018)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 991))

Abstract

Testing is one of the most important activities to ensure the quality of a software system. This paper proposes and discusses the TSL (Test Specification Language) that adopts a model-based testing approach for both human-readable and computer-executable specifications of test cases. TSL is strongly inspired on the grammar, nomenclature and writing style as defined by the RSLingo RSL, which is a rigorous requirements specification language. Both RSL and TSL are controlled natural languages that share common concepts such as data entities, use cases and state machines. However, by applying black-box functional testing design techniques, TSL includes and supports four complementary testing strategies, namely: domain analysis testing; use case tests; state machine testing; and acceptance criteria. This paper focuses on the first three testing strategies of TSL. Finally, a simple but effective case study illustrates the overall approach and supports the discussion.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by national funds under FCT project UID/CEC/50021/2019.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. INESC-ID, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

    Alberto Rodrigues da Silva

  2. Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Ana C. R. Paiva & Valter E. R. da Silva

  3. INESC TEC, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal

    Ana C. R. Paiva

Authors
  1. Alberto Rodrigues da Silva
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  2. Ana C. R. Paiva
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  3. Valter E. R. da Silva
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ana C. R. Paiva .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Université d’Angers/ESEO, Angers, France

    Slimane Hammoudi

  2. University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

    Luís Ferreira Pires

  3. Malina Software Corp., Nepean, ON, Canada

    Bran Selic

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da Silva, A.R., Paiva, A.C.R., da Silva, V.E.R. (2019). A Test Specification Language for Information Systems Based on Data Entities, Use Cases and State Machines. In: Hammoudi, S., Pires, L., Selic, B. (eds) Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development. MODELSWARD 2018. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 991. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11030-7_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11030-7_20

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-11029-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-11030-7

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