Towards the Systematic Testing of Aspect-Oriented Programs

The code that provides solutions to key software requirements, such as security and fault-tolerance, tends to be spread throughout (or cross-cut) the program modules that implement the “primary functionality” of a software system. Aspect-oriented programming is an emerging programming paradigm that supports implementing such cross-cutting requirements into named program units called “aspects”. To construct a system as an aspect-oriented program (AOP), one develops code for primary functionality in traditional modules and code for cross-cutting functionality in aspect modules. Compiling and running an AOP requires that the aspect code be “woven” into the code. Although aspect-oriented programming supports the separation of concerns into named program units, explicit and implicit dependencies of both aspects and traditional modules will result in systems with new testing challenges, which include new sources for program faults. This paper introduces a candidate fault model, along with associated testing criteria, for AOPs based on interactions that are unique to AOPs. The paper also identifies key issues relevant to the systematic testing of AOPs.