Optimized Testing of Encoding and Decoding Functions

The testing of encoding and decoding (aka codec) functions isa fault-prone and time-consuming task. But these functions offer aspecial opportunity: As the input equals the output, if you encodeand decode it successively, it is possible to generate test casesfor these functions automatically. These can be used for asystematic regression testing. In this book Dirk Jebing shows anapproach to develop a test case generator, which tests codecs forinternet protocols in the testing language TTCN-3 (used in thetelecommunications industry). This approach can be adopted easilyfor other languages and codecs. After introducing TTCN-3 thesituation for codec testing is analyzed and different strategies,how the test cases should look like, are developed, and whichproblems may occur by designing them. To minimize the time fordiscovering faults, ideas for optimizing the generated test suiteare presented.The developed strategies are compared empirically bytesting a codec for the DHCP protocol. Thisbook is adressed tosoftware developers and testers who want to improve the quality oftheir software. Furthermore it provides a deep insight in automatedregression testing methods.