JTorX Tool for Model-Based Testing of Software

Organisation:	University of Twente (THE NETHERLANDS)
Functionality:	Graphical tool for model-driven test derivation and execution.
Tools used:	CADP (Construction and Analysis of Distributed Processes)
Period:	2010
Description:	JTorX is a tool for model-driven test derivation and execution. It is an evolution of the TorX tool introduced in 1999, and compared with this earlier tool, JTorX is easier to deploy and use, making it more suitable for educational purposes. JTorX also provides additional functionalities that were not present in TorX, including the ability to check for underspecified traces in a model and interactive or guided simulation of a model. It supports the TorX Explorer protocol, which provides access to models using several tool sets, including CADP. JTorX has a modular architecture, similar to TorX, providing both flexibility and openness. There are four main components: Explorer, Prinmer, Driver, and Adaptor. An Explorer provides access to specification (either the Model being checked or a Test Purpose). Explorer components are specific to the formalism used in the specification. A Primer provides access to a formalism-independent version of the model, in which states that are not of interest (perhaps because they have been analysed in a previous test run) are ignored. The Driver controls a test run, as directed by the user, and records the test results. An Adaptor provides the connection betwen the Driver and the system under test (SUT). Adaptor components are specific to a type of SUT and are model-dependent. JTorX has been used by students at four universities following courses on testing techniques. They compared models and tested programs against models they developed. Previously these courses used TorX and students complained about the user experience, whereas with JTorX there were no complaints and students were able to complete more elaborate exercises. Tutors also found that replacing TorX with JTorX reduced the effort needed to set up the exercises.
Conclusions:	Use of JTorX in the teaching environment gave students a better understanding of both the theory and practice of model-based testing, by means of elaborate exercises. JTorX has been used to discover errors that might not otherwise have been found, including one unintended error in a SUT developed for one of the courses.
Publications:	[Belinfante-10] Axel Belinfante. "JTorX: A Tool for On-Line Model-Driven Test Derivation and Execution". Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Tools and Algorithms for the Construction and Analysis of Systems TACAS'2010, Lecture Notes in Computer Science vol. 6015, pages 266-270. Springer Verlag, March 2010. Available on-line at: http://doc.utwente.nl/70841/1/main.pdf or from the CADP Web site in PDF or PostScript See also the description of TorX available at http://cadp.inria.fr/software/99-b-torx.html
Contact:	Axel Belinfante Formal Methods and Tools Group University of Twente P.O. Box 217 NL-7500 AE Enschede THE NETHERLANDS E-mail: Axel.Belinfante@cs.utwente.nl
Further remarks:	This tool, amongst others, is described on the CADP Web site: http://cadp.inria.fr/software

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