Module 6

CAST Tools
by
K.N.Sasidhar

CAST Tools

What are CAST Tools ?

What are CASE Tools ?
Types of CAST Tools
Benefits of CAST Tools
Risks / Dangers of CAST tools
Tool Selection and Implementation

What are CAST Tools ?

Computer Aided Software Testing tools

There are many different tools
They have many different purposes.
They are used at different phases within the
SDLC
They are used by different people
All designed to assist in the testing process

What are CASE tools ?

Computer Aided Software Engineering
tools
Developed to support each phase in the
SDLC
Repository for all design documentation
Allows developers to create High-level
program specs and then Program code.

Types of CAST Tools

We Will cover:
Requirements testing tools
Test Design tools
Test Data Preparation tools
Static Analysis tools
Dynamic Analysis tools
Coverage Measurement Tools
..

Types of CAST Tools

Debugging Tools
Test Harnesses and Drivers
Character based testing tools
GUI test Running tools
Performance test tools
Comparison tools
Test Management tools

Types of CAST Tools

Requirements testing tools

Provide support for Verification

Provide support for validation
Consistency checking
Enable traceability of requirements
Ex: a) DOORS from Telelogic b) RequisitePro from
Rational

Types of CAST Tools

Test Design Tools
Generation of test cases from a specification
Generation of test cases from the code.
Normally used with CASE tools
Ex: Rationals Test Factory

Types of CAST Tools

Test Data Preparation tools
Enable selection of data from existing files or
databases
Allow the manipulation of the data for testing
requirements
Can deal with data from different sources
Ex: File-Aid Suite of products from Compuware

Types of CAST Tools

Static Analysis tools
Code is examined rather than tested
Information on the softwares quality is
provided.
Programming language specific
Ex: McCabe QA from McCabe

Types of CAST Tools

Dynamic Analysis tools
Provide run-time information on the executing
software
Allocation,Use and De-allocation of memory
Memory leaks,unassigned pointers
Mainly used by developers
Ex: BoundsChecker from Compuware

Types of CAST Tools

Coverage Measurement tools
Provide information on code and /or function
coverage
How much of the application code has been
exercised
Instrumentation code is added before compilation.
Ex: McCabe Test from McCabe

Types of CAST Tools

Debugging Tools
Used by developers to investigate why programs
are failing
Can halt programs at a particular statement
Can step through programs one step at a time
Can examine program variables
Can change program variables
Can alter the path the program is taking
Ex: XPEDITER from Compuware

Types of CAST Tools

Test Harnesses and Drivers
Can be commercially available tools or home
grown
Used to test software that may not have a user
interface
Used to run existing automated scripts
Used to support tests where code from other
systems is unavailable.
Ex: TestQuest from Test Quest

Types of CAST Tools

Character based testing tools
Provide capture-replay facilities for dumb-terminal
based applications
Simulate user entered terminal key strokes and
capture screen responses for later comparison
Test procedures captured in programmable script
language
Most commonly used for regression testing
Ex: Autotester from Autotester

Types of CAST Tools

GUI Test Running tools
Provide Capture-replay facilities for GUI based
applications
Mouse movements,button clicks,user input
simulated
Can recognize GUI objects Windows, buttons,
fields
Test procedures captured in programmable script
language
Most commonly used for regression testing
Ex: Win Runner from Mercury
Test Partner from Compuware and Silk from Segue

Types of CAST Tools

Performance test tools
Load generation tools simulate the load
generated by the application to test the architecture
Test Transaction tools Transaction times of
selected actions times and logged
Can the system cope with the load ?
Can the system respond in acceptable timescales ?
Ex: Load Runner from Mercury
QALoad from Compuware

Types of CAST Tools

Comparison tools

Can examine source code

Can examine files and databases
Can examine screen images
Have the ability to disregard information
Used to detect differences between expected results
and actual results.
Ex: EXDIFF from TestWorks

Types of CAST Tools

Test Management tools
Manage the testing process
Definition of what to test, how to test,when to test
and what happened
Provide testing statistics / Graphs for management
reporting
Enable impact analysis
Can also provide incident management
Ex: Test Director from Mercury
QA Director from Compuware

Benefits of CAST Tools

Automate the running and reporting of tests

Regression testing is quick and easy
Consistency of test data when automating tests
Reduction of manual staff
Greater accuracy and repeatability of test tasks
Assessment of software quality
Ease of access to information about tests or
testing(e.g statistics and graphs about test progress

Risks / Dangers of CAST Tools

No Single or Simple solution
Unrealistic expectations for the tool
Underestimating the effort required to maintain
the test assets generated by the tool
Over-reliance on the tool
May lead to bottlenecks in development
They do not make up for poor testing practices

Tool Selection and Implementation

The tool selection process Stage 1

The tool selection process Stage 2
The tool selection process Stage 3
Tool Implementation

Tool Selection and Implementation

Questions that need to be asked:
Are we ready for CAST Tools ?
Is our testing Process stable ?
What areas would most benefit from CAST
Tools ?
What is the most important? Prioritize
requirements.

Tool Selection and Implementation

The tool selection process stage 1
Determine your requirements
Determine the tools that suits your
requirements

Tool Selection and Implementation

The tool selection process stage 2
Is the tool suitable for my environment ?
What does it costs ?
Does it integrate with other tools I have ?
What skill sets are required ?

Tool Selection and Implementation

The tool selection process stage 3
Create a shortlist of products
Draw up a list of questions to ask each
vendor
Arrange demonstrations
Evaluate the tools
Review and select the tool

Tool Selection and Implementation

Tool Implementation
Identify a Pilot Project
Train the Pilot users if necessary
Determine the Pilot Objectives
- Experience of using the tool
- Identify changes required in the Test process
- Assess costs and benefits of implementation
Roll-out to all target Users