Method and system for performing automated regression tests in a state-dependent data processing system

• US 6,966,013 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2002
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Friedrich, Toni, Blum, Michael Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Baderman, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONTINO, PAUL F
• Application Number:
  US10/138,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20030018932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 714/38, 714/715, 714/39, 717/131, 717/124, 717/125
• US Class Current: 714/38.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/273 Tester hardware, i.e. output processing circuits G06F11/263 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and system for performing regression tests in a state-dependent data processing environment where data are processed by means of at least one function having a signature of defined parameters and corresponding values. A regression test is performed using at least one pre-determined set of test data and one pre-recorded function test case corresponding to said signatures and being used to execute said at least one pre-recorded function test case. The proposed mechanism particularly comprises the step of adapting said at least one function test case or said at least one set of test data to any changed signatures caused by a state transition of said data processing system. The mechanism thus provides automated regression tests in such a data processing environment and enables re-execution of a regression test in a changed context of the underlying data processing environment.

Claims

1. A method for performing regression tests in a state-dependent data processing system where data are processed by means of at least one function having a signature of defined parameters and corresponding values, and wherein a regression test is performed using at least one pre-recorded function test case and at least one pre-determined set of test data corresponding to said signature and being used to execute said at least one pre-recorded function test case, said method comprising the step of adapting said at least one function test case and/or said at least one set of test data to any changed signatures caused by a state transition of said data processing system;

Performing, during a first state of said data processing system, a first test stage of said regression test using said pre-recorded function test case and a first set of test data thus revealing actual test results;

Comparing said actual test results with expected test results, and if the actual test results match with the expected test results, during a second state of said data processing system, performing a second test stage of said regression test using said pre-recorded function test case and a second set of test data, wherein updating the signature used by said second set of test data and/or the at least one set of test data with regard to said state transition from said first state to said second state.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said actual test results revealed during said first test stage include first certain values for said at least two parameters which are compared with second certain values for said at least two parameters obtained from said second test stage in order to update said signatures used by said second set of test data or to update said second set of test data, respectively.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein said step of updating said at least one function test case and/or said at least one set of test data is based on the actual results obtained during said first test stage.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein said step of updating said at least second set of test data includes updating a specified subset of said at least second set of test data.

5. A computer program product stored on a computer usable medium, comprising computer readable program means for causing a computer to perform a method according to claim 3 when said program is run on said computer.