A Safe, Efficient Algorithm for Regression Test Selection

Regression testing is a necessary but costly maintenance activity aimed at demonstrating that code has not been adversely aaected by changes. A selective approach to regression testing selects tests for a modi-ed program from an existing test suite. We present a new technique for selective regression testing. Our algorithm constructs control dependence graphs for program versions, and uses these graphs to determine which tests from the existing test suite may exhibit changed behavior on the new version. Unlike most previous techniques for selective retest, our algorithm selects every test from the original test suite that might expose errors in the modiied program, and does this without prior knowledge of program modiications. Our algorithm handles all language constructs and program modiications, and is easily automated.