arrow
Return

Genetic Algorithms for Randomized Unit Testing

delete2011-01-01
delete57
PRE
AI
J
James H. Andrews *
T
Tim Menzies
F
Felix Chun Hang Li
DOI:10.1109/TSE.2010.46delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Randomized testing is an effective method for testing software units. The thoroughness of randomized unit testing varies widely according to the settings of certain parameters, such as the relative frequencies with which methods are called. In this paper, we describe Nighthawk, a system which uses a genetic algorithm (GA) to find parameters for randomized unit testing that optimize test coverage. Designing GAs is somewhat of a black art. We therefore use a feature subset selection (FSS) tool to assess the size and content of the representations within the GA. Using that tool, we can reduce the size of the representation substantially while still achieving most of the coverage found using the full representation. Our reduced GA achieves almost the same results as the full system, but in only 10 percent of the time. These results suggest that FSS could significantly optimize metaheuristic search-based software engineering tools.
Keywords:
Software testing
randomized testing
genetic algorithms
feature subset selection
search-based optimization
testing tools
AI Summary

AI Summary

Key information extracted from the uploaded paper, including a brief overview, abstract, background, key highlights, visual analysis, and future outlook.

Journal

IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering cover
IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering
IF:
5.6
Papers:
2.8K
Citations:
1.1W

Organization

W
western university (university of western ontario)
Scholars:
2.9W
Papers: 2.7W
Citations: 33
W
West Virginia University
Scholars:
1.4W
Papers: 1.1W
Citations: 1.2W