Keyword based software testing system and method

Abstract

An improved software testing system is described. In various embodiments, the system may produce a glossary containing keywords from the program state information associated with a software application to be tested. The system may produce a state engine model for the software application utilizing the program state information associated with the software application. The system may generate a test script by causing the software application to move through states identified by the state engine model such that the test script can identify a sequence of steps or keywords from the glossary. The system may select a keyword based on the current state of the software application and persona information. A persona may indicate a type of testing.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a testing system having hardware and software that test a software application;   wherein the software of the testing system comprises instructions translatable by the hardware of the test system to cause the test system to perform:
 receiving program state information associated with the software application; 
 producing a glossary containing keywords from the program state information associated with the software application; 
 producing a state engine model for the software application utilizing the program state information associated with the software application; 
 generating one or more test scripts by causing the software application to move through states identified by the state engine model, the one or more test scripts identifying a sequence of steps or keywords from the glossary; and 
 storing the one or more test scripts in a data storage device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the hardware of the test system to cause the test system to perform:
 receiving persona information over a network connection, the persona information identifying at least one of the one or more test scripts for execution and associated weightings.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the hardware of the test system to cause the test system to perform:
 determining persona information from the glossary containing the keywords associated with the software application.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the persona information further identifies a type of testing. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the hardware of the test system to cause the test system to perform:
 selecting a keyword from the glossary based on a current state of the software application and the persona information.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the hardware of the test system to cause the test system to perform:
 storing steps relating to the selected keyword in a test script.   
     
     
         7 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a test system running on one or more computing devices and having hardware and software that test a software application, program state information associated with the software application;   producing, by the test system, a glossary containing keywords from the program state information associated with the software application;   producing, by the test system, a state engine model for the software application utilizing the program state information associated with the software application;   generating one or more test scripts by causing the software application to move through states identified by the state engine model, the one or more test scripts identifying a sequence of steps or keywords from the glossary; and   storing, by the test system, the one or more test scripts in a data storage device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the test system, persona information over a network connection, the persona information identifying at least one of the one or more test scripts for execution and associated weightings.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 determining, by the test system, persona information from the glossary containing the keywords associated with the software application.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the persona information further identifies a type of testing. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 selecting, by the test system, a keyword from the glossary based on a current state of the software application and the persona information.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 storing, by the test system, steps relating to the selected keyword in a test script.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 identifying a test script from the one or more test scripts;   executing the test script to test the software application; and   reporting any errors in the software application or the executing step.   
     
     
         14 . A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions translatable by at least one processor to cause a test system to perform:
 receiving program state information associated with a software application;   producing a glossary containing keywords from the program state information associated with the software application;   producing a state engine model for the software application utilizing the program state information associated with the software application;   generating one or more test scripts by causing the software application to move through states identified by the state engine model, the one or more test scripts identifying a sequence of steps or keywords from the glossary; and   storing the one or more test scripts in a data storage device.   
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , where the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to cause the test system to perform:
 receiving persona information over a network connection, the persona information identifying at least one of the one or more test scripts for execution and associated weightings.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , where the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to cause the test system to perform:
 determining persona information from the glossary containing the keywords associated with the software application.   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the persona information further identifies a type of testing. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , where the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to cause the test system to perform:
 selecting a keyword from the glossary based on a current state of the software application and the persona information.   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , where the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to cause the test system to perform:
 storing steps relating to the selected keyword in a test script.   
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , where the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to cause the test system to perform:
 identifying a test script from the one or more test scripts;   executing the test script to test the software application; and   reporting any errors in the software application or the executing step.