An automated tool to generate test cases for performing basis path testing

Abstract

Basis Path Testing is a more rigorous software testing criterion typically used for program unit testing. Although it can simply be used to assure the quality of the individual program units, a major issue that the tester experiences is how to determine test cases. The tester requires enough test cases to uphold the thoroughness of testing, but not many that all the limited testing resources are used up. In most cases, the tester has to determine test cases manually. However, when program has a complex branching structure, it becomes very difficult to determine test cases manually. This makes the automated test case generation a need. However, the usual practices such as use of dynamic program analyzers to guide the test case generation process are inadequate to address this problem. In previous work, we proposed a method to generate test cases for performing basis path testing. In this paper, we discuss how the proposed method can be used to develop a tool to automate the test case generation process. The paper also outlines few limitations of our tool and provides some general guidelines for its further improvement.