Research On Regression Test Triggered By Software Change

As the rapid growth of software industry, the scope of software application is getting wider and wider. Many fast, muti-period developing method like agile development and iterative development comes out. The period of developing is become shorter and shorter, while the quality requirement is become higher and higher. Software development, especially regression test, as an important way to ensure software quality. The key point is maximize the efficiency of test using limited time and cost.Regression test is retesting the software after modification, the hard part is identify the effect of modification, and how to select an regression test set from existing test cases.At first, this paper does some research on the selection strategy. Compare the advantage and dis advantage between minimum selection strategy and full selection strategy and other strategies. Then, this paper does some research on effect of modification. Using the concept of entropy, which is common in information science, describes the state of software source code, as an index of the risk of software defects to measure the influence of modification. And proposes an new strategy based on the measurement of modification.At last, using the regression test of Thomson Reuter’s Trade Notification System as an example, compares the new strategy with minimum strategy and full selection strategy, finishes the validation that the new strategy can ensure the efficiency of test with significantly reducing the scale of regression test set, balances the test cost and test efficient.