donm@margot.Eng.Sun.COM (Don Miller) (10/18/90)
In article <1040@tglobe2.tollpost-globe> kjell@tglobe2.tollpost-globe (Kjell J. Isaksen) writes: >Practical use of CASE tools. / Software throug Pictures >======================================================= > >I hope by this posting to set off a broader discussion of >practical use of CASE tools withing software engineering. > >We are trying to benefit from the use of four of the StP >editors DFE (data flow), DSE (data structure), ERE (entity >relationship) and SCE (Structure chart). > I wonder if StP, or other CASE tools, can provide me with a function I need. I would like to be able to follow a variable back through a C program. This would involve tracking and showing all the transformations the variable makes as it is used, passed as a parameter, changed, initialized, and defined. This means tracking the logical data entities since the name, type, and value would change. The reason I would like this functionality is for a code coverage improvement process. There are tools on the market which are able to determine coverage and show uncovered code. What I need is a way to determine how to execute that uncovered code. This generally involves forcing the controlling conditionals to follow a certain path. Thus, the variables within the conditionals become critical. If I could find out how to provide the appropriate test input to make the data transformations force the appropriate path to be taken I'd be a happy man. If anyone knows of such a tool, or has another methodology for improving code coverage from a tester's, not developer's, perspective, please respond. Thanks -- Don Miller | #include <std.disclaimer> Software Quality Engineering | #define flame_retardent \ Sun Microsystems, Inc. | "I know you are but what am I?" donm@eng.sun.com |