Systems and methods for embedded application test suites

Abstract

Systems, methods and media for testing computer programs in response to a program upgrade or installation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer executes software to detect when an upgrade or an installation occurs. When an upgrade or installation occurs the computer initiates a test of one or more applications and/or operating systems. The results of these tests are logged in one or more error logs that can be displayed to a program developer or operating system administrator for diagnosis.

1 . A system for testing application programs, comprising: 
 a detection mechanism to detect an installation event consisting of installation or upgrade of an application program on a computer system;    a test initiator to initiate a test sequence of at least one of the application programs if a new installation or upgrade is detected by the detection mechanism; and    an error detection component to detect if an error occurs during execution of a test sequence initiated by the test initiator.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a log file to store generated error messages.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an error message generator to generate an error message if an error arises from executing an initiated test sequence.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a test sequence for testing an application program or operating system program in response to a detected installation event resides in the respective application program or operating system program to be tested.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the test initiator initiates a test of each of a plurality of application programs when an operating system is upgraded.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the test initiator initiates a test of an application program that interacts with a newly installed or upgraded application program.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the error message generator resides in an operating system program.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the test initiator resides in an operating system program.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the detection mechanism resides in an operating system program.  
     
     
         10 . A computer with self-testing functionality; comprising: 
 a test control component to detect an installation event comprising an upgrade of an application program;    a test initiation component responsive to detection of an installation event to initiate a test sequence to test an application program for which an installation event has occurred; and    an error detection component to detect if an error occurs during execution of a test sequence initiated by the test initiation component.    
     
     
         11 . The computer of  claim 10 , further comprising an interface component to enable communication with a user to control the test initiation component.  
     
     
         12 . The computer of  claim 10 , further comprising an error message generator to generate an error message if an error arises from executing an initiated test sequence.  
     
     
         13 . The computer of  claim 10 , wherein a test sequence executed in response to an installation event resides in the application program tested by the sequence.  
     
     
         14 . The computer of  claim 10 , wherein the test initiation component resides in an operating system.  
     
     
         15 . The computer of  claim 10 , wherein the error detection component resides in an operating system.  
     
     
         16 . The computer of  claim 10 , wherein the test initiator initiates a test for each of a plurality of application programs in response to a change in the installation of an operating system program.  
     
     
         17 . A machine-accessible medium containing instructions for testing application programs and operating system programs, which, when executed by a machine, cause said machine to perform operations, comprising: 
 detecting an installation event comprising an upgrade of an application program;    initiating a test sequence in response to detection of an installation event to test one or more applications; and    detecting if an error occurs during execution of the initiated test sequence.    
     
     
         18 . The machine accessible medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise maintaining a log file of error messages generated in response to detection of errors during execution of an initiated test sequence.  
     
     
         19 . The machine accessible medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise initiating a test of an operating system in response to a detected change in the operating system.  
     
     
         20 . The machine accessible medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise providing an interface to enable user control of test sequence initiation.