TITLE:
Using Genetic Algorithm as Test Data Generator for Stored PL/SQL Program Units
AUTHORS:
Mohammad A. Alshraideh, Basel A. Mahafzah, Hamzeh S. Eyal Salman, Imad Salah
KEYWORDS:
Genetic Algorithms; SQL Stored Program Units; Test Data; Structural Testing; SQL Exceptions
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Software Engineering and Applications,
Vol.6 No.2,
February
28,
2013
ABSTRACT: PL/SQL is the most common language for ORACLE database
application. It allows the developer to create stored program units (Procedures,
Functions, and Packages) to improve software reusability and hide the
complexity of the execution of a specific operation behind a name. Also, it
acts as an interface between SQL database and DEVELOPER. Therefore, it is
important to test these modules that consist of procedures and functions. In
this paper, a new genetic algorithm (GA), as search technique, is used in order
to find the required test data according to branch criteria to test stored
PL/SQL program units. The experimental results show that this was not fully
achieved, such that the test target in some branches is not reached and the
coverage percentage is 98%. A problem rises when target branch is depending on
data retrieved from tables; in this case, GA is not able to generate test cases
for this branch.