Scenario-based component testing using embedded metadata

Abstract

We present an approach for the use case and scenario-based testing of software components. Use cases and scenarios are applied to describe the functional requirements of a software system. In our approach, a test is defined as a formalized and executable description of a scenario. Tests are derived from use case scenarios via continuous refinement. The use case and test information can be associated with a software component as embedded component metadata. In particular, our approach provides a model-based mapping of use cases and scenarios to test cases, as well as (runtime) traceability of these links. Moreover, we describe an implementation-level test framework that can be integrated with many different programming languages.