Mutation testing applied to concurrent programs in MPI

Author(s)

Rodolfo Adamshuk Silva

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Matemáticas e de Computação (ICMC/SB)
• Defense date: 2013-03-13

Examining board members

Simone do Rocio Senger de Souza; Fabiano Cutigi Ferrari; Adenilso da Silva Simão

• Advisor: Simone do Rocio Senger de Souza

Abstract

Concurrent programming became a popular paradigm for software development. This paradigm is essential to build applications which aim to reduce the computational time in many areas, such as, weather forecast, image processing, among others. These programs present new features such as communication, synchronization, and nondeterminism, which must be considered during the testing activity. Software testing is an activity that looks to ensure quality by identifying faults in the product. Mutation Testing is a criterion based on the most common mistakes that might be made by software developers. However, the mutation testing cannot be applied in concurrent programs the same way as applied in sequential ones due to the peculiarities present in concurrent programs. One of the problems in applying mutation testing in this context is the non-deterministic behavior. This work investigates the definition of mutation testing for concurrent programs implemented in MPI (Message Passing Interface), which perform communication and synchronization using message passing. For this, typical faults in this area were considered in order to model mutation operators addressing the aspects of communication and synchronization of these applications. Also, we are proposing a new procedure to support the behavioral analysis of the mutants. The ideas were implemented in a testing tool called ValiMPI Mut (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/04935-6 - Mutation Testing Applied to Distributed Systems
• Grantee: Rodolfo Adamshuk Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master