Specification-based testing for refinement

Abstract

In this paper, we present a theory for the evaluation of test cases with respect to formal specifications. In particular, we use the specification language CSP-CASL to define and evaluate black-box tests for reactive systems. Using loose semantics and three-valued test oracles, our approach is well-suited to deal with the refinement of specifications. In a structured development process of computational systems, abstract specifications are gradually refined into more concrete ones. With our approach, it is possible to develop test cases already from very abstract and basic specifications, and to reuse them later on in more refined systems.