A pointcut-based coverage analysis approach for aspect-oriented programs

Author(s)

Lazzarini Lemos, Otavio Augusto ; Masiero, Paulo Cesar

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INFORMATION SCIENCES; v. 181, n. 13, p. 26-pg., 2011-07-01.

Abstract

Aspect-oriented programming (AOP) is a promising technology that supports separation of crosscutting concerns (i.e., functionality that tends to be tangled with, and scattered through the rest of the system). In AOP, a method-like construct named advice is applied to join points in the system through a special construct named pointcut. This mechanism supports the modularization of crosscutting behavior; however, since the added interactions are not explicit in the source code, it is hard to ensure their correctness. To tackle this problem, this paper presents a rigorous coverage analysis approach to ensure exercising the logic of each advice - statements, branches, and def-use pairs - at each affected join point. To make this analysis possible, a structural model based on Java bytecode - called PointCut-based Del-Use Graph (PCDU) - is proposed, along with three integration testing criteria. Theoretical, empirical, and exploratory studies involving 12 aspect-oriented programs and several fault examples present evidence of the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/10300-3 - Advances in Structural Testing of Aspect-Oriented Programs: Aspect Interaction, Exception Handling, and Testing Strategies
• Grantee: Otávio Augusto Lazzarini Lemos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral