Providing automated mechanisms for the mutation testing of Java and Aspect J programs

• Grant number: 11/21515-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Computer Science - Computing Methodologies and Techniques
• Principal Investigator: Fabiano Cutigi Ferrari
• Grantee: Filipe Gomes Leme
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Matemáticas e de Computação (ICMC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Performing the software testing activity, with the application of specific test selection criteria, strongly relies on automated tools. Such dependency also exists with respect to supporting the testing of software built with recent or relatively recent software development approaches. Examples of these approaches are Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and Aspect-Oriented Programming (AOP). Amongst the most investigated test selection criteria, mutation testing stands out due to its effectiveness to reveal faults that are commonly introduced into the software while it is developed. In spite of the late investigation of mutation testing in the context of OOP and AOP, usually addressing the Java and the AspectJ languages, we can observe that the available tools offer limited support to the application of this criterion. This proposal aims to develop a tool to support the mutation testing of object-oriented programs and aspect-oriented programs, either written in Java or AspectJ languages. It proposes the extension of an existing tool originally created to support the mutation testing of AspectJ programs. The aimed tool will enable, for example, the execution of experimental studies that involve varied testing strategies applied to the target programming languages. Therefore, this proposal represents a relevant contribution to the Software Engineering field.(AU)