Dynamic Testing Resource Allocation of Modular Software System for SRGM Incorporating Testing Efficiency Using Differential Evolution

Abstract

Software reliability engineering has recently been playing a rapidly increasing role in the industry. This has occurred because it carefully plans and guides development and test so that software developing team develop a more reliable product faster and cheaper. Practically, a software testing process consists of several testing stages. A project manager should know how to allocate the specified testing resources among all the modules and develop quality software with high reliability. In this paper, we investigate an optimal resource allocation problem in modular software systems for flexible Software Reliability Growth Model (SRGM). The optimization model proposed for optimal allocation of testing resources among the modules of software subject to budgetary constraint is formulated and solution is obtained using Differential Evolution which stands as a powerful tool for solving search and optimization problems. The allocated testing resources for each of the modules are utilized to detect and remove the faults. The parameters are re-estimated using all the available fault detection data for each of the modules. The new allocation problem is re-formulated and allocation of testing resources for each of the modules is obtained. The process is terminated either the desired level of faults are removed from each of the modules or specified number of iterations is exhausted. The above problem has been discussed using numerical example to illustrate the applicability of the approach.