TEST CASE GENERATION FROM UML MODELS - A SURVEY

Studies show that large software projects have a huge likelihood of failure. In fact, it’s more likely that a large software application fails to meet its requirements on time and on budget due to lack of quality in design or implementation or testing. The success of such software, however, can be improved by modeling. Model-Based test case generation approaches inspire developer to improve design quality by identifying faults in the implementation at early stage, and thereby reducing the software development time. Modeling is one way to visualize the design and check it against requirements before developers begin the coding phase. One such modeling language widely used is Unified Modeling Language (UML). UML diagrams produce a graphical representation (view/model) of the system under design and implementation. If testing the software is addressed at the initial stage in Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), it will be easy for the testers to test the software in the later stages leading to lesser time consumption as well as lessen the manpower involved. Developing test cases is an essential testing artifact which requires plan, techniques and practice. When testing software, there are often a massive amount of possible test-cases even in quite simple systems. Running all the possible test-cases is almost never an option, and designing test-cases becomes an important part of the testing process. The number of test cases to develop is not limited, but the fewest test cases with maximum coverage should be the goal. Test cases should be designed in such a way that achieves 100% requirement coverage and should be effective in uncovering defects. This paper aims at bringing into limelight the various UML models used for generating test cases.