Mutation Analysis of Ada Programs

Mutation analysis is a testing technique that finds errors in software by testing the accuracy of the test cases used to validate the software. The subject code is "seeded" with errors, then run against the test cases. By judicious selection of errors, failures of the test set to detect the seeded errors will lead to test set extensions or corrections that will reveal previously undetected bugs in the original code. Mutation analysis has been shown to be effective, but it has not found widespread acceptance in the software engineering community. We believe this is due to inadequate research on and attention to technology transition issues. We therefore propose a two-pronged approach to mutation analysis: research and development of the core technology, and complimentary research of appropriate technology transition concerns, e.g., the relationship of mutation analysis to static and dynamic analyses, interoperability requirements, user goals and perceived needs, etc. An object-oriented analysis and design specifying a mutation analysis tool will be performed and documented.