A Comprehensive Framework for Testing Database-Centric Software Applications

Greg Kapfhammer (Pitt/CS)

PhD Defense

Friday, April 19th, 2007
1:00pm - SENSQ 5317

Abstract

The database is a critical component of many modern software applications. Recent reports indicate that the vast majority of database use occurs from within an application program. Indeed, database-centric applications have been implemented to create digital libraries, scientific data repositories, and electronic commerce applications. However, a database-centric application is very different from a traditional software system because it interacts with a database that has a complex state and structure. This dissertation formulates a comprehensive framework to address the challenges that are associated with the efficient and effective testing of database-centric applications. The database-aware approach to testing includes: (i) a fault model, (ii) several unified representations of a program's database interactions, (iii) a family of test adequacy criteria, (iv) a test coverage monitoring component, and (v) tools for reducing and re-ordering a test suite during regression testing.

Dissertation Adviser

Dr. Mary Lou Soffa (University of Virtinia)

Committee Members

Prof. Bruce Childers, Department of Computer Science
Prof. Panos Chrysanthis, Department of Computer Science
Dr. Jeffrey Voas (SAIC)