Back to research topics

Axini develops tools for model based testing (MBT) and model based software engineering (MBSE). Model based testing is a software testing approach in which test cases are automatically generated and executed from a model, a formal specification of the system under test. This approach allows for a high degree of test automation and more thorough testing.

An important part of automated test execution in general and model-based testing in particular, is the adapter that interfaces to the system under test. This adapter translates model actions into actions that are executable on the system under test. For Axini there is a standardized interface to the Axini platform, but the connection to the system under test has to be in the interface technology of the system. Depending on the interface of the system under test it can be quite some work to make adapters. But if you look from an abstract point of view, most adapters look alike and share similar design and code.

It would be very interesting to see if we can generate parts or the entire adapter automatically. One interesting idea is to use the information in a log file as a basis for the adapter generation. The log file should have the information (or part) of the actions that the adapter should support. Using a log file is just an example, it is also fine to use other information for the adapter generation.

For this assignment, should you accept it, you will design and create a proof of concept for such an adapter generator. This assignment is ideal for an internship or to combine with another assignment, for example in the case of a master thesis.

Possible research questions

There are several puzzles and research questions that students can work on.

Automatic code generation
Which input is needed to create a fully functioning adapter?
Adapter validation
How to automatically validate that an adapter implements a protocol correctly?