Test case generation for transition-pair coverage using Scatter Search

A challenging part of Software Testing entails the generation of test cases, whose costs can be reduced by means of the use of techniques for automating this task. On the other hand, the nature of Software Engineering problems is ideal for the application of metaheuristic techniques. In this paper we present an approach based on the metaheuristic technique Scatter Search for the automatic test case generation of BPEL business processes using a transition-pair coverage criterion. The test case generator is called TCSS-LS-for-BPEL and it combines a diversity property with a local search. The diversity property is used to extend the search of test cases in order to reach different transitions of the business process. The local search is used to intensify the search when the diversification has problems to find test cases that cover transitions that have not been covered yet. We present the results obtained by our test case generator using two sample compositions and carry out a comparison with a random generator. The results indicate that TCSS-LS-for-BPEL can be used in the generation of test cases for BPEL business processes.