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Information Sources and their Importance to Prioritize Test Cases in the Heterogeneous Systems Context
No full textContext: Testing techniques proposed in the literature rely on various sources
of information for test case selection (e.g., require- ments, source code,
system structure, etc.). The challenge of test selection is amplified in the
context of heterogeneous systems, where it is unknown which information/data
sources are most important.
Contribution: (1) Achieve in-depth understanding of test processes in
heterogeneous systems; (2) Elicit information sources for test selection in the
context of heterogeneous systems. (3) Capture the relative importance of the
identified information sources.
Method: Case study research is used for the elicitation and understanding of
which information sources are relevant for test case privatization, followed by
an exploratory survey capturing the relative importance of information sources
for testing heterogeneous systems.
Results: We classified different information sources that play a vital role in
the test selection process, and found that their importance differs largely for
the different test levels observed in heterogeneous testing. However, overall
all sources were considered essential in test selection for heterogeneous
systems.
Conclusion: Heterogeneous system testing requires solutions that take all
information sources into account when suggesting test cases for selection. Such
approaches need to be developed and compared with existing solutions
A Taxonomy for Requirements Engineering and Software Test Alignment
No full textRequirements Engineering and Software Testing are mature areas and have seen a
lot of research. Nevertheless, their interactions have been sparsely explored
beyond the concept of traceability. To fill this gap we propose a definition of
requirements engineering and software test (REST) alignment, a taxonomy that
characterizes the methods linking the respective areas, and a process to assess
alignment. The taxonomy can support researchers to identify new opportunities
for investigation, as well as practitioners to compare alignment methods and
evaluate alignment, or lack thereof. We constructed the REST taxonomy by
analyzing alignment methods published in literature, iteratively validating the
emerging dimensions. The resulting concept of an information dyad characterizes
the exchange of information required for any alignment to take place. We
demonstrate use of the taxonomy by applying it on five in-depth cases and
illustrate angles of analysis on a set of thirteen alignment methods. In
addition we developed an assessment framework (REST-bench), applied it in an
industrial assessment, and showed that it, with a low effort, can identify
opportunities to improve REST alignment. Although we expect that the taxonomy
can be further refined, we believe that the information dyad is a valid and
useful construct to understand alignment
Testing of Heterogeneous Systems
No full textContext: A system of systems often exhibits heterogeneity, for instance in
implementation, hardware, process and verification. We define a heterogeneous
system, as a system comprised of multiple systems (system of systems) where at
least one subsystem exhibits heterogeneity with respect to the other systems.
The system of systems approach taken in development of heterogeneous systems
give rise to various challenges due to continuous change in configurations and
multiple interactions between the functionally independent subsystems. The
challenges posed to testing of heterogeneous systems are mainly related to
interoperability, conformance and large regression test suites. Furthermore,
the inherent complexities of heterogeneous systems also pose challenge to the
specification, selection and execution of tests.
Objective: The main objective of this licentiate thesis is to provide an
insight on the state of the art in testing heterogeneous systems. Moreover, we
also aimed to investigate different test techniques used to test heterogeneous
systems in industrial settings and their usefulness as well as to identify and
prioritize different information sources that can help practitioners to define
a generic search space for test case selection process.
Method: The findings presented in this thesis are obtained through a controlled
experiment, a systematic literature review (SLR), a case study and an
exploratory survey. The purpose of systematic literature review was to
investigate the existing state of art in testing heterogeneous systems and
identification of research gaps. The results from the SLR further laid down the
foundation of action research conducted through an exploratory survey to
compare different test techniques. We also conducted an industrial case study
to investigate the relevant data sources for search space initiation to
prioritize and specify test cases in context of heterogeneous systems.
Results: Based on our literature review, we found that testing of heterogeneous
systems is considered a problem of integration and system testing. It has been
observed that multiple interactions between the system and subsystems results
into a testing challenge, especially when the configurations change
continuously. It is also observed that current literature targets the problem
of testing heterogeneous systems with multiple test objectives resulting in
employing different test methods to reach a domain specific testing challenge.
Using the exploratory survey, we found three test techniques to be most
relevant in context of testing heterogeneous systems. However, the most
frequently used technique mentioned by the practitioners is manual exploratory
testing which is not a much researched topic in the context of heterogeneous
systems. Moreover, multiple information sources for test selection process are
identified through the case study and the survey.
Conclusion: Companies engaged in development of heterogeneous systems encounter
huge challenges due to multiple interactions between the system and subsystems.
However, the conclusions we draw from the research studies included herein show
a gap between literature and industry. Search-based testing is widely discussed
in the literature but is the least used test technique in industrial practice.
Moreover, for test selection process there are no frameworks that take in
account all the information sources that we investigated. Therefore, to fill
this gap there is a need for an optimized test selection process based on the
information sources. There is also a need to study different test techniques
identified through our SLR and survey and compare these techniques on real
heterogeneous systems
Performance Comparison of IPv6 Multihoming and Mobility Protocols
No full textMultihoming and mobility protocols enable computing devices to stay always best
connected (ABC) to the Internet. The focus of our study is on handover latency
and rehoming time required by such protocols. We used simulations in OMNeT++ to
study the performance of the following protocols that support multihoming,
mobility or a combination thereof: Mobile IPv6 (MIPv6), Multiple Care-of
Address Registration (MCoA), Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP), and
Host Identity Proto- col (HIP). Our results indicate that HIP shows best
performance in all scenarios considered
In press: On Shared Understanding in Software Engineering: an Essay
No full textShared understanding is essential for efficient software engineering when the
risk of unsatisfactory outcome and rework of project results shall be low.
Today, however, shared understanding is used mostly in an unreflected, ad-hoc
way. This affects the quality of the engineered software solutions and
generates re-work once the quality problems are discovered. In this article, we
investigate the role, value, and usage of shared understanding in software
engineering. We contribute a reflected analysis of the problem, in particular
of how to rely on shared understanding that is implicit, rather than explicit.
After an overview of the state of the art we discuss forms and value of shared
understanding in
software engineering, survey enablers and obstacles, compile existing practices
for dealing with shared understanding, and present a roadmap for improving
knowledge and practice in this area
Two-Dimensional Spectrum for BiSAR Derivation Based on Lagrange Inversion Theorem
No full textA 2-D spectrum for bistatic synthetic aperture radar is derived in this letter.
The derivation is based on the commonly used mathematic principles such as
themethod of stationary phase and the Fourier transform and the Lagrange
inversion theorem in order to find the point of stationary phase in the method
of stationary phase. Using the Lagrange inversion theorem allows minimizing the
initial assumptions or the initial approximations. The derived 2-D spectrum is
compared with the commonl
Building a pathway for innovation: Lessons learned from developing an online platform
No full textCompanies are constantly being pressured to innovate in order to stay
competitive in the short run and have new offerings in the long run. One way of
boosting innovation is to develop idea support systems that go beyond the
traditional methods and tools. Through a qualitative study, this paper explores
the lessons learned from developing an online platform for idea generation, and
discusses it in terms of innovation process, climate, and capabilities. The
results show that the platform itself is not enough for innovation. The
structure and work processes around the platform are as important, which
implies the need to design processes and procedures that allow an idea to
develop, providing, focus, idea feedback and role clarity
Safety, immunogenicity and antibody persistence following an investigational Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae tri-protein vaccine: a phase 1 randomized controlled study in healthy adults.
No full textWe investigated a protein-based nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) and
pneumococcal (HiP) vaccine containing pneumococcal histidine triad D (PhtD),
detoxified pneumolysin (dPly), and NTHi protein D (PD) in adults. In a phase I
study, 40 healthy 18- to 40-year-old subjects were randomized (2:2:1) to
receive two HiP doses administered 60 days apart, with or without AS03 adjuvant
(HiP-AS and HiP groups, respectively), or Engerix B (GlaxoSmithKline, Belgium)
as a control. Safety, antibodies, and antigen-specific CD4+ T-cell immune
responses were assessed before and until 480 days after vaccination. No serious
adverse events were reported, and no subject withdrew due to an adverse event.
Local and systemic symptoms were reported more frequently in the HiP-AS group
than in the other two groups. The frequency and intensity of local and systemic
symptoms appeared to increase after the second dose of HiP-AS or HiP but not
Engerix B. Antibody geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) for PhtD, dPly, and PD
increased after each dose of HiP-AS or HiP, with higher GMCs being observed in
the HiP-AS group (statistically significant for anti-PD after dose 1 and
anti-Ply after dose 2). GMCs remained higher at day 420 than prior to
vaccination in both the HiP-AS and HiP groups. Antigen-specific CD4+ T cells
increased after each dose but were unmeasurable by day 480. Two doses of an
investigational PhtD-dPly-PD protein vaccine induced humoral immunity and
antigen-specific CD4+ T-cell responses after each dose, with generally higher
responses when the vaccine was administered with AS03. HiP combined with AS03
appeared to be more reactogenic than the antigens alone. (This study has been
registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT00814489.
Interactive Search-Based Testing of Embedded Software: Understanding the Benefits and Difficulties of Industrial Application
No full textThe ubiquity of software has wide-ranging consequences for its development and
testing. Increasingly often, software is developed and tested by engineers
specialized in other areas. Embedded software, for example, is developed
ad-hoc, for each product, by systems and domain engineers. Supporting testing
activities in this context requires a highly flexible approach, powerful enough
to create useful test cases, yet simple enough to not require specialized
training in software testing.
Search-based software testing promises the ability to generate and
evaluate large numbers of test cases at minimal cost. It is, however, a set of
complex techniques that cannot be used off-the-shelf as part of the software
development process of a company.
The objective of the work presented in this thesis is to investigate
the applicability of Search-Based Software Testing in an industrial
environment. A second objective was identifying additional knowledge gaps
relating to integrating such techniques in existing software development
processes. Investigating how meaningful interaction is to take place, what
information is needed in order for both stakeholders to be able to achieve
their objectives is a third goal.
The findings are obtained by means of a series of case studies in a
company developing both embedded software and the tools to enable embedded
software development. A prototype Interactive Search-Based Software Testing
(ISBST) system was developed that uses user interaction to drive the
search-based component towards interesting test cases.
The ISBST system was evaluated constantly, and improved based on the
findings of each case study. The latest case study was an empirical evaluation
of the system with the engineers, both software engineers and domain
specialists, in the company.
The empirical work includes both qualitative and quantitative data,
with a focus on the exploratory study of the practical factors affecting the
use of the ISBST system.
A key early finding is that interactivity is essential when
implementing search-based techniques in the industrial context described above.
Repeated validations conducted with the company yielded additional information
on the practicalities of interaction.
The strength of SBST proved useful in investigating areas of the test
space that were normally overlooked due to limitations in terms of resources.
At the same time, developers were able to use their experience and intuition to
guide the SBST system towards test cases that were more likely to be
problematic.
Overall, the results obtained indicate that the search-based techniques
provide a useful complement to existing testing techniques.
SBST, in its interactive form, can be a useful complement to existing
testing techniques. An Interactive SBST (ISBST) system has been developed as a
result of this research. Results show that this system is usable by the
developers of embedded software, that often specialize on acquiring domain
knowledge rather than software engineering expertise
Heritage planning in Malmö and Rotterdam during the 2000’s : A cross-contextual analysis of arguments, metaphors and figures of thought
No full textA wide variety of scholars acknowledge heritage planning as a widespread
phenomenon. However, to what extent it is widespread is debatable. Also, if
heritage planning is an acknowledged widespread phenomenon, what can be learned
about it when looking at the rhetoric and the key concepts used in different
contexts?
This study aims at a cross-contextual investigation. The main aim is to
interpret and to discuss rhetoric and underlying ideas used in heritage
planning debates across contextual boundaries. The main aim is made workable
through a number of methodological choices that curtail the scope of the study.
The following main question is the result of these choices; what kinds of
arguments, metaphors and figures of thought are similar (context-independent)
versus different (context-dependent) in a selection of recent and on-going
debates about heritage planning from Malmö and Rotterdam?
As part of the methodology, figures of thought – that are expected to be
relevant for understanding debates about heritage planning – are treated. This
includes figures of thought such as the idea of an “original” and the idea of
“progress”. Cases from the cities of Malmö and Rotterdam are chosen to study
what similarities and differences come to the fore in heritage planning
debates running parallel in time but being situated in different contexts
(respectively a Swedish and a Dutch). The debates chosen are about the Kockums
Crane and the area of Varvsstaden in Malmö and about the Porters Lodge and the
area of RDM in Rotterdam.
The analysis shows that the arguments and premises raised, the metaphors used
and the underlying figures of thought are to a great extent similar between the
cases from Malmö and the cases from Rotterdam. However, the use of arguments,
metaphors and figures of thought differs professional groups in-between
(“monument curators” versus “planners”) and between debates about single
objects (the Kockums Crane and the Porters Lodge) and debates about the
development of areas (Varvsstaden and the area of RDM).
This study shows that arguments, metaphors and figures of thought effectively
are exchanged across national boundaries through professions. More notable
however, is that different “language-games” played or kinds of arguments used
by monument curators and planners do not seem to conflict with each other at a
discursive level. For example, the monument curator’s story-telling metaphors
are smoothly turned into the planner’s commodification metaphors. However, at
the level of figures of thought a potential conflict may arise between the
preservationist idea of the moral duty of stewardship and the idea of
commodification of built heritage propagated by an alliance between bureaucracy
and economy