Introduction to Web-Based Repository for Software Testing Tools (WReSTT)

03/16/2009

Florida International University WISTPC 2009

Peter J. Clarke

• Software testing primary approach used to ensure development high quality software.

• Software bugs, or errors, cost the U.S. economy an estimated $59.5 billion annually [NIST 2002].

• Plethora of software testing tools and program analyzers http://www.aptest.com/resources.html#app-source

• None of the repositories target the pedagogical needs of students and instructors.

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Why WReSTT ?

• Introduction

• Objectives

• Overview of WReSTT

• WReSTT Registration

• Basic Features of WReSTT

• Summary

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Outline

• WReSTT is part of a CCLI Phase I collaborative project between FIU and FAMU.

• Long-term goal - creation of a web-based repository for vetted software artifacts to support pedagogy.

• Project goal – creation of web-based repository of testing tools to support pedagogy.

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Introduction

Benefits of WReSTT:

1.Availability of a vetted selection of software testing tools to students and instructors.

2.Easy access to tutorials on software testing and tutorials for testing tools.

3.Access to a moderated forum where students and instructors can share feedback.

4.Ability to rate testing tools in WReSTT

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Introduction cont

1. Increase # of academic users that have access to vetted software testing tools in a single repository.

2. Provide a forum where CS/IT instructors can improve their knowledge of software testing tools.

3. Provide students with the opportunity to:

– Improve their conceptual understanding of the approaches used to test software.

– Improve their practical software testing skills using the testing tools in WReSTT.

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Project Objectives

1. Provide a forum where CS/IT instructors can improve their knowledge of software testing tools.

2. Expose participants to using WReSTT.

Outcomes:

1. Participants will increase their knowledge of using software testing tools to support pedagogy.

2. Participants will be able to use the features of WRESTT to support pedagogy.

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Workshop Objectives

WReSTT seeks to provide students and

instructors with guided access to vetted

software testing tools and program analyzers

that will support the development of quality

software during their academic training.

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Overview of WReSTT

WReSTT provides users with the ability to:

• Register as either a student, instructor, developer or tester.

• Update their profile

• Browse tools by

– Categories (coverage, metrics, plug-ins, test execution, web)

– Language (C++, Java, VB.Net)

– Test level (Unit, System/UI)

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Overview of WReSTT cont

WReSTT provides users with the ability to:

• Seek help in the “How-to” page

• Post to the following forums:

– General

– Tool installation

– Tool usage

– User showcase

– Request/Suggestions

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Overview of WReSTT cont

WReSTT provides users with the ability to:

• Write comments for a specific tool

• Rate a specific tool

• View any events related to the project

• View links associated with software testing

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Overview of WReSTT cont

• WReSTT is implemented using the content management system Drupal.

• The main components of WReSTT are:

– Tool to rate test tools and monitor forums

– Tool to analyze user data

– Tool to log testing tool specific activities

• Go to the following URL and register:

http://wrestt.cis.fiu.edu/

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Overview of WReSTT

• Click on the “Register” tab

• Complete the registration form (select role “student”)

• An email with login information will be sent to your email account.

• Depending on the role selected you will have different access rights.

• Please login to WReSTT

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WReSTT Registration

• Top panel – Home, Register, Forums, Events, Sponsors, Links, Contact

• Left side panel – Main Menu, Browse Tools, Assistance, Affiliations

• Right side panel – Links, News

• Main panel – main content of the page.

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Basic Features of WReSTT

• Select “Preview all Tools”

• Scroll down to “JUnit”

• Select “View Details”

• The page for each tool provide the following:

– Description of the tool

– Official web site for the tool

– Tutorials: video clip; web page

– Ratings and comments link

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Basic Features of WReSTT cont

Help us test WReSTT by performing the following:

• View some of the tutorials (no sound).

• Rate JUnit and write a comment about JUnit from your past experience.

• You may reply to comments posted by other participants.

• Feel free to use the other forums to post any other comments or problems encountered.

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Basic Features of WReSTT cont

In this session we:

• covered the objectives of WReSTT

• covered the basic features of WReSTT

• were able to:

– create accounts in WReSTT

– become familiar with the page layout

– browse the tools in WReSTT

– rate a tool and post comments for a tool

– used the forums to post other comments

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Summary