Gregory M. Kapfhammer

Associate Professor of Computer Science

http://www.cs.allegheny.edu/~gkapfham/

  
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Testing Database-Driven Applications: Challenges and Solutions

Gregory M. Kapfhammer and Mary Lou Soffa. Testing Database-Driven Applications: Challenges and Solutions Presented at the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, May 14, 2004.

Related Project: DIATOMS

Abstract

As our society has become increasingly reliant upon the usage of timely, relevant, and correct information, the database has become an important tool for managing sources of information. An increased dependence upon databases has also caused a multiplication of the number of database-driven applications that provide transparent access to these information sources. Intuitively, a database-driven application is a program that interacts with databases in order to efficiently manage its data. Unfortunately, there is a relative dearth of testing techniques that can ensure that a database-driven application correctly interacts with the database. Traditional program and database testing techniques test the program and the database in isolation and assume that the program's interaction with the database is correct. However, since database-driven applications often interact with databases in a non-trivial fashion, the isolated testing of the program and the databases that constitute a database-driven application is not sufficient. This presentation will highlight the challenges that are associated with the testing of this unique class of applications. It will also outline some solutions that are the first step towards high-quality software applications that interact with databases. In particular, it will describe a family of data flow-based test adequacy criteria that is designed to measure the quality of test suites for database-driven applications. Finally, the presentation will explore some techniques that can be used to execute a database-driven application's test suite while monitoring the test suite's coverage.

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