Using formal methods to derive test frames in category-partition testing

Abstract

Testing is a standard method of assuring that software performs as intended. We extend the category-partition method, which is a specification-based testing method. An important aspect of category-partition testing is the construction of test specifications as an intermediate between functional specifications and actual tests. We define a minimal coverage criterion for category-partition test specifications identify a mechanical process to produce a test specification that satisfies the criterion, and discuss the problem of resolving infeasible combinations of choices for categories. Our method uses formal schema-based functional specifications and is shown to be feasible with an example study of a simple file system.<>