UML specification-based integration testing of software components

Abstract

Using reusable software components, large-scale industrial software systems with high reliability can be developed in a short time. To assure the quality of component-based software, it is important to test interactions between components in different contexts of the component-based software as well as each component. Specifications described in Unified Modeling Language(UML) provide testers with information needed to test component-based software systems. In specific, a Component Interaction Diagram(CID) shows each component interaction behavior with other components. We propose a testing approach which use combination of CIDs to test interactions between components in component-based software. We describe how to generate Combined Component Interaction Graph(CCID) and convert it to a form suitable for test case generation. Then test cases are generated and their execution order is determined to make them more meaningful. Our testing approach enables the component-based system developer to test component interaction behaviors between acquired components. Using our testing approach, we also propose a framework for acquisition and integration of components that enables component consumers to integrate components with existing system with ease.