Specification-Based Approach to Select Regression Test Suite to Validate Changed Software

Abstract

Regression testing is used to achieve adequate confidence in changed software. To achieve confidence, currently organizations re-execute the entire system test suite on the entire software. Re-executing entire system test suite is an expensive and time consuming activity. To reduce such costs, execution of smaller regression test suite to validate the changed software is suggested. Several techniques, both code-based and model-based that recommend smaller regression test suites have been proposed in the literature. Largely the model-based regression test selection techniques are based on design models. In this paper, we propose a regression test suite selection approach based on commonly used requirement analysis model -UML use case activity diagram. As a part of the approach we also propose a concept called behavioral slicing to structure activity diagrams. Based on the proposed approach, a prototype tool has been designed and developed. Using the prototype, we have conducted real-world case studies and observed impressive productivity and quality gains.