Regression Testing for C++ Software

Journal of Software Testing, Verification, and Reliability

Regression testing is an important but expensive software maintenance activity performed with the aim of providing confidence in modified software. Regression test selection techniques reduce the cost of regression testing by selecting test cases for a modified program from a previously existing test suite. Many researchers have addressed the regression test selection problem for procedural language software, but few have addressed the problem for object-oriented software. This paper presents a regression test selection technique for use with object-oriented software. The technique constructs graph representations for software, and uses these graphs to select test cases, from the original test suite, that execute code that has been changed for the new version of the software. The technique is strictly code based, and requires no assumptions about the approach used to specify or test the software initially. The technique applies to modified and derived classes, and to application programs that use modified classes.