Application of Software Test Tools to Battlefield Automated Systems. Phase I.

This report describes the first phase of a multi-phase research and development automated software test driver project. In recent years, much effort has been expended by researchers to develop practical software test tools to improve the reliability and reduce the prodigious life cycle costs of operational software. Much progress has been made within the last five years, and many of these tools have now emerged from the research stage to practical products. It is now feasible to acquire certain candidate test tools, evaluate their utility, and demonstrate how they can be used to improve the software development process on a wide variety of Army projects. The objective of phase 1 was to define and classify various categories of software test tools. Definitions and a glossary of terms are included for the readers convenience. The basic features and principles of operation for test programs are introduced and discussed. It was concluded that these programs are practical and can be used as prototypes to introduce automated test tools into the Army software development process. Based on the practicality of test tool usage and the potential for reliability improvement and cost savings, phase 2 will continue with the in-depth evaluation of the two most promising test-driver methodologies. These are the Cyclomatic Complexity Measure of McCabe Associates and the Test Coverage Analysis Tool TCAT of Software Research Associates.