Improving Automation in Developer Testing: State of the Practice

Developer testing, a common step in software development, involves generating desirable test inputs and checking the behavior of the program unit under test during the execution of the test inputs. Existing industrial developer testing tools include various techniques to address challenges of generating desirable test inputs and checking the behavior of the program unit under test. This paper presents an overview of techniques implemented in industrial developer testing tools to address challenges in improving automation in developer testing. These techniques are summarized from two main aspects: test efficiency (e.g., with a focus on cost) and test effectiveness (e.g., with a focus on benefit).