TESTAR (Test*)

Automated software testing tool

Abstract

TESTAR is a software testing automation tool that uses accessibility APIs and frameworks to connect and test desktop, web, and mobile systems through the Graphical User Interface (GUI). Moreover, the flexible TESTAR architecture allows it to extend its capabilities to connect and test cutting-edge systems such as eXtended Reality (XR) video games.

The core scriptless testing principle of TESTAR is: (1) connect to the desired System Under Test (SUT), (2) detect the existing GUI widgets or XR objects, (3) derive the possible actions to execute, such as click or type for GUI systems and movement and interactions for XR systems, (4) and apply oracles to check if a failure affects the SUT (e.g., crash, freeze, exception message, visual overlapping, etc.). This scriptless procedure is executed until a failure is found or until it reaches the predefined maximum testing time.

A distinguishing testing feature of TESTAR is its automation. By default, it uses a random approach to select the next action to be performed.  Moreover, smarter machine learning (ML) algorithms are being integrated to improve the testing process.

Several academic-industry collaborations validate TESTAR’s effectiveness. TESTAR’s scriptless approach has proven to be complementary to traditional testing or scripted testing methodologies in uncovering features and identifying defects.

TESTAR is available under the BSD3 license and is published on GitHub https://github.com/TESTARtool/TESTAR_dev .

Website: testar.org

Current Contributors:

  • Tanja Vos
  • Fernando Pastor
  • Ramón de Vries
  • Olivia Rodriguez
  • Lianne Hufkens
  • Parsa Karimi
  • Beatriz Marín

Responsible

  • Tanja Vos