Toward a test-ready meta-model for use cases

Abstract

In the UML, use cases are used to define coherent units of functionality associated with classifiers (classes, subsystems, or systems.) Two principal purposes that use cases serve are specifying the functionality the classifier will provide and providing a basis for developing test cases for the classifier. This paper discusses issues that arise when using use cases as the basis for model-based testing. Based on this discussion, a test-ready meta-model for use cases is developed. Next, I describe a tool constructed using the concepts from the meta-model, and provides data from the initial pilots of this tool. I close by discussing future research.