Remotely handling exceptions through STAF

• US 8,239,837 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: McAllister, Cameron J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vy, Hung T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Mongbao
• Application Number:
  US12/120,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20080288924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: 717124-135
• US Class Current: 717/127
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3688 for test execution, e.g. scheduling of test suites

Abstract

An apparatus for communicating between a child test program and a parent test program in a test environment. A child test framework is provided to catch an exception thrown by the child test program. In addition, a marshalling component is provided in communication with the child test program and the child test framework. The marshalling component converts exception data for the exception into a format for transmission by a communication means to a parent test framework.

Claims

1. An apparatus for communicating between a child test program and a parent test program in a test environment, comprising:

said parent test program, in communication with a processor, said parent test program to start said child test program;

a child test framework configured to catch an exception thrown by said child test program;

a marshalling component configured to in communication with said child test program and said child test framework to convert exception data for said exception into a format for transmission by a communication means to a parent test framework, wherein said communication means is configured to communicate using a standard error output stream, and wherein said communication means inserts said exception data and a delimiter into said standard error output stream and said delimiter comprises an indication that exception data relates to a child test program of a determined parent test, wherein each parent test program processes exceptions only for its own child test program; and

the parent test to identify a cause of failure in the child test program based upon said exception data.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first parent test framework component configured to receive said converted exception data from said communication means;

a second parent test framework component configured to convert said exception data back from said format for transmission; and

an exception return component to return said converted exception data for processing by said parent test.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the child test framework and the parent test framework comprise a modified software testing automation framework (STAF).

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said parent test program and said child test program form a portion of a hierarchy of a plurality of tests, and wherein said child test framework and said parent test framework form a portion of a hierarchy of a plurality of test frameworks.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said parent test program is configured to invoke said child test program in synchronous mode.

6. A method for communicating between a child test program and a parent test program in a test environment, comprising:

said parent test program starting said child test program;

catching, by a child test framework, an exception thrown by said child test program;

converting, by a marshalling component configured to in communication with said child test program and said child test framework, exception data for said exception into a format for transmission by a communication means to a parent test framework, wherein said communication means communicates using a standard error output stream and inserts said exception data and a marker into said standard error output stream, and said marker comprises an indication that exception data relates to a child test program of a determined parent test, wherein each parent test program processes exceptions only for its own child test program; and

returning exception data to the parent test for identifying a cause of failure in the child test program.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

receiving, by a first parent test framework component, said converted exception data from said communication means;

converting, by a second parent test framework component, said exception data back from said format for transmission; and

returning said converted exception data for processing by said parent test.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said parent test program and said child test program form a portion of a hierarchy of a plurality of tests, and wherein said child test framework and said parent test framework form a portion of a hierarchy of a plurality of test frameworks.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said parent test program invokes said child test program in synchronous mode.

10. A computer program comprising computer program code to, when loaded into a computer system and executed thereon, cause said computer system to perform instructions for communicating between a child test program and a parent test program in a test environment, the instructions comprising:

instructions for said parent test program to start said child test program;

instructions to catch, by a child test framework, an exception thrown by said child test program;

instructions to convert, by a marshalling component configured to in communication with said child test program and said child test framework, exception data for said exception into a format for transmission by a communication means to a parent test framework, wherein said communication means communicates using a standard error output stream and inserts said exception data and a marker into said standard error output stream, and wherein said marker comprise an indication that exception data relates to a child test program of a determined parent test, wherein each parent test program processes exceptions only for its own child test program; and

instructions to identify a cause of failure in the child test program based upon said exception data by the parent test.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising:

instructions to receive, by a first parent test framework component, said converted exception data from said communication means;

instructions to convert, by a second parent test framework component, said exception data back from said format for transmission; and

instructions to return said converted exception data for processing by said parent test.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said parent test program and said child test program form a portion of a hierarchy of a plurality of tests, and wherein said child test framework and said parent test framework form a portion of a hierarchy of a plurality of test frameworks.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said parent test program invokes said child test program in synchronous mode.