A path analysis approach to concurrent program testing

A path analysis approach to concurrent program testing is proposed. A concurrent path model for modeling the execution behavior of a concurrent program is presented. In the model, an execution of a concurrent program is seen as involving a concurrent path (which comprises the paths of all concurrent tasks), and the tasks' synchronizations are modeled as a concurrent route to traverse the concurrent path involved in the execution. Accordingly, testing is a process to examine the correctness of each concurrent route along all concurrent paths of concurrent programs. On the basis of the model, the test format is defined, and a path analysis testing methodology is presented. Also, several coverage criteria, extended from coverage criteria for sequential programs, are proposed. Some practical issues of path analysis testing, namely, test path generation, test data generation, and design of the test execution control mechanism are also addressed.<<ETX>>