A Tool for Automated Test Code Generation from High-Level Petri Nets

Abstract

Abstract. Automated software testing has gained much attention because it is expected to improve testing productivity and reduce testing cost. Automated generation and execution of tests, however, are still very limited. This paper presents a tool, ISTA (Integration and System Test Automation), for automated test generation and execution by using high-level Petri nets as finite state test models. ISTA has several unique features. It allows executable test code to be generated automatically from a MID (Model-Implementation Description) specification -including a high-level Petri net as the test model and a mapping from the Petri net elements to implementation constructs. The test code can be executed immediately against the system under test. It supports a variety of languages of test code, including Java, C/C++, C#, VB, and html/Selenium IDE (for web applications). It also supports automated test generation for various coverage criteria of Petri nets. ISTA is useful not only for function testing but also for security testing by using Petri nets as threat models. It has been applied to several industry-strength systems.

Modeling and Analyzing Publish Subscribe Architcture using Petri Nets

“…The test generator generates adequate model level tests (i.e., firing sequences of a function net) according to a selected coverage criterion such as reachability coverage, transition coverage, state coverage, depth coverage, and goal coverage. Test code generator generates test code in a target program language like Java or C++ from a given transition tree [17].…”

“…Model based testing uses results from testing architectural models for testing their corresponding implementations. For example, model level tests for testing an architecture are transformed into program level tests for testing its implementation [17] [19]. The approach discussed in this paper is used for analyzing software architecture in Petri nets via naturally combing informal analysis techniques like software testing and formal analysis techniques like bounded model checking in two-phase analysis.…”

“…Then model-based test cases are generated from the checked model for selected test coverage criteria and finally they are converted into the program level tests for testing the corresponding implementation. Model-based software testing with MISTA has been introduced in other publications [14] [17], but the focus of this paper is on how to integrate bounded model checking into the process. The process of modeling and analysis of software architecture was illustrated by modeling and analyzing the pub-sub architecture.…”

“…In some cases, model level tests are first generated, and then they are transformed into program level tests. MISTA [17] is a model based software testing tool, which models a software system in high level Petri nets, and then the Petri net model is analyzed with simulation and model checking. Model level tests can be automatically generated according to selected test coverage criteria, and then these tests are automatically transformed into program level tests with help from mapping files.…”

A model-based approach to automated testing of access control policies

“…The underlying test model, represented by a Predicate/Transition (PrT) net [4][5] [6], is constructed from the given access control rules and functional requirements according to which the SUT is designed and implemented. PrT nets are high-level Petri nets, a well-studied formal method for system modeling and verification.…”