Framework for Optimizing Test Cases in Regression Testing

Abstract

Software once developed is subject to continuous changes. Software Regression Testing thus can be used to reduce the efforts of testing the software by selecting only the required number of test cases and ordering them to test the software after changes have been made to it. In order to improve the fault detection rate, the selection of efficient test cases and order of execution of these tests is important. Here is when the test case selection comes into picture where in, the fault detection rate during the working of any software has to be improved. The test case selection process will find the most efficient test cases which can fully functionally test the software that has been modified. This indeed will contribute to an improved fault detection rate which can provide faster feedback on the system under test and let software engineers begin correcting faults as early as possible. In this paper, an approach for test case selection is proposed which takes into consideration the effect of three parameters History, Coverage and Requirement all together in order to improve the selection process. This will also ensure that the rejection of some efficient test cases is reduced when compared to the selection process in conventional methods, most of them making use of a single parameter for test case selection. These Test cases are further optimized using Genetic Algorithm. Results indicate that the proposed technique is much more efficient in terms of selecting the test cases when compared to conventional techniques, thereby improving fault detection rate.