An empirical investigation of the relationship between spectra differences and regression faults

摘要: Many software maintenance and testing tasks involve comparing the behaviours of program versions. Program spectra have recently been proposed as a heuristic for use in performing such comparisons. To assess potential usefulness this context an experiment was conducted, examining relationship between differences exposure regression faults (faults existing modified version that were not present prior to modifications, or revealed previous testing), empirically several types spectra. The results reveal certain correlate with high frequency—at least one direction—with faults. That is, when are by particular inputs, likely also be those though reverse is true. suggest appear, analytically, offer greater precision predicting presence than other, cheaper, may provide no practice. These ramifications future research on, practical uses of, Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.