Using Property-Based Testing to Generate Feedback for C Programming Exercises

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2020

Authors

Pedro Vasconcelos (Author) FCUP; Rita Ribeiro (Author) FCUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: First International Computer Programming Education Conference, ICPEC 2020, June 25-26, 2020, ESMAD, Vila do Conde, Portugal (Virtual Conference).

Initial page: 28:1

1st International Computer Programming Education Conference, ICPEC 2020

25 June 2020 through 26 June 2020

Indexing

Scopus - 3 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00S-DD7

DOI: 10.4230/oasics.icpec.2020.28

Abstract (EN): This paper reports on the use of property-based testing for providing feedback to C programming exercises. Test cases are generated automatically from properties specified in a test script; this not only makes it possible to conduct many tests (thus potentially find more mistakes), but also allows simplifying failed tests cases automatically. We present some experimental validation gathered for an introductory C programming course during the fall semester of 2018 that show significant positive correlations between getting feedback during the semester and the student's results in the final exam. We also discuss some limitations regarding feedback for undefined behaviors in the C language. 2012 ACM Subject Classification Social and professional topics ! Student assessment; Software and its engineering ! Software testing and debugging; Software and its engineering ! Domain specific languages.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific