METFORD - Mutation tEsTing Framework fOR anDroid

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2025

Authors

Vincenzi, AMR (Author) Other; Kuroishi, PH (Author) Other; João Bispo (Author) FEUP; da Veiga, ARC (Author) Other; da Mata, DRC (Author) Other; Azevedo, FB (Author) Other; Paiva, ACR (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Systems and Software

Vol. 222

ISSN: 0164-1212

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-017-ZWC

DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2024.112332

Abstract (EN): Mutation testing maybe used to guide test case generation and as a technique to assess the quality of test suites. Despite being used frequently, mutation testing is not so commonly applied in the mobile world. One critical challenge in mutation testing is dealing with its computational cost. Generating mutants, running test cases over each mutant, and analyzing the results may require significant time and resources. This research aims to contribute to reducing Android mutation testing costs. It implements mutation testing operators (traditional and Android-specific) according to mutant schemata (implementing multiple mutants into a single code file). It also describes an Android mutation testing framework developed to execute test cases and determine mutation scores. Additional mutation operators can be implemented in JavaScript and easily integrated into the framework. The overall approach is validated through case studies showing that mutant schemata have advantages over the traditional mutation strategy (one file per mutant). The results show mutant schemata overcome traditional mutation in all evaluated aspects with no additional cost: it takes 8.50% less time for mutant generation, requires 99.78% less disk space, and runs, on average, 6.45% faster than traditional mutation. Moreover, considering sustainability metrics, mutant schemata have 8,18% less carbon footprint than traditional strategy.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 17