Automated regression testing of workstation software

• US 6,694,509 B1
• Filed: 12/28/1999
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stoval, William M., Edwards, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAS, CHAMELI
• Application Number:
  US09/473,869
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 717/126, 717/127, 717/132, 717/136, 717/137, 717/143, 717/144, 717/114, 717/155, 717/163, 717/124, 717/128, 717/133, 717/156, 717/109, 717/113, 714/2, 714/38, 714/25, 715/203, 715/516, 715/514, 707/205
• US Class Current: 717/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3688 for test execution, e.g. scheduling of test suites
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99956 File allocation

Abstract

A workstation includes a regression testing program which tests application programs developed on the workstation using stored test scripts. A test directory tree is maintained to mirror a source code directory tree, and the test directory tree is employed to select the test scripts to be used in testing any newly compiled application programs.

Claims

1. In a workstation used to develop application programs, the system comprising:

a program editor for enabling a user to create an application program;

a source code library for storing the application program;

a source directory tree for storing names of files which store the source code that collectively form the application program;

a test tree directory which stores the names of test files that correspond to the source code files named in the source directory tree;

a regression test script library for storing test scripts corresponding to the test files named in the test tree directory;

a regression testing program responsive to test scripts selected using the test directory tree to perform regression testing on executable code produced from source code selected using the source directory tree; and

means for automatically checking file names in the source directory tree and test file names in the test directory tree to determine if there is a test file named in the test directory tree corresponding to each file named in the source directory tree.

2. In a workstation used to develop application programs, the system comprising:

a program editor for enabling a user to create an application program;

a source code library for storing the application program;

a source directory tree for storing names of files which store the source code that collectively form the application program;

a test tree directory which stores the names of test files that correspond to the source code files named in the source directory tree;

a regression test script library for storing test scripts corresponding to the test files named in the test tree directory;

a regression testing program responsive to test scripts selected using the test directory tree to perform regression testing on executable code produced from source code selected using the source directory tree;

means for creating a new regression test script for storage in the regression test script library for each file in the source directory tree which does not have a corresponding test file named in the test directory tree; and

means for creating a new test file name in the test tree directory which corresponds to the new regression test script.

3. The workstation as recited in claim 2 in which the new regression test script is a default test script.

4. The workstation as recited in claim 2 in which the new test file name includes a text string which is the same as a text string in the corresponding file name in the source directory tree.

5. In a workstation used to develop application programs, the system comprising:

a program editor for enabling a user to create an application program;

a source code library for storing the application program;

a source directory tree for storing names of files which store the source code that collectively form the application program;

a test tree directory which stores the names of test files that correspond to the source code files named in the source directory tree;

a regression test script library for storing test scripts corresponding to the test files named in the test tree directory;

a regression testing program responsive to test scripts selected using the test directory tree to perform regression testing on executable code produced from source code selected using the source directory tree; and

means for checking test file names in the test directory tree to identify orphan test files which do not have corresponding file names in the source directory tree.

6. The workstation as recited in claim 5 which further includes means for indicating to a user that an orphan test file has been found in the test directory tree.

7. The workstation as recited in claim 6 which further includes means for deleting orphan test files from the test directory tree and the corresponding test scripts from the regression test script library.

8. The workstation as recited in claim 6 which further includes means for changing the name of orphaned test files in the test tree directory.

9. A method for producing and testing programs on a programmable system, the steps comprising:

a) creating source code programs using an editor;

b)storing the source code programs in a source code library;

c) storing source code file names in a source directory tree which correspond with source code programs in the source code library;

d) producing a test tree directory which mirrors the source directory tree and includes test file names which correspond with the source code file names;

e) producing a regression test script library for storing test scripts corresponding to the test file names in the test tree directory;

f) testing a program produced from source code programs corresponding to selected source code file names in the source code directory tree using test scripts from the test script library corresponding to the test files that have test file names corresponding with the selected source code file names;

g) searching for orphan test file names in the test tree directory which do not have corresponding source code file names in the source directory tree; and

h) visually indicating the presence of an orphan test file.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 which includes:

inputting directions from a user indicating that the orphan test file is to either be deleted or changed in name.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising automatically updating the test tree directory whenever a change to the source directory tree is made.

12. A method for producing and testing programs on a programmable system, the steps comprising:

a) creating source code programs using an editor;

b) storing the source code programs in a source code library;

c) storing source code file names in a source directory tree which correspond with source code programs in the source code library;

d) producing a test tree directory which mirrors the source directory tree and includes test file names which correspond with the source code file names;

e) producing a regression test script library for storing test scripts corresponding to the test file names in the test tree directory; and

f) testing a program produced from source code programs corresponding to selected source code file names in the source code directory tree using test scripts from the test script library corresponding to the test files that have test file names corresponding with the selected source code file names; and

g) updating the test tree directory, wherein the updating of the test tree directory includes (i) creating a new regression test script for storage in the regression test script library for each file in the source directory tree which does not have a corresponding test file named in the test directory tree, and (ii) creating a new test file name in the test tree directory which corresponds to the new regression test script.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising generating a report as to whether the program passed the tests.