Query-based test generation for database applications

Abstract

This paper describes a new approach to generating inputs to database applications. The goal is to generate inputs that satisfy certain properties specified by the tester and that also cause queries to return non-empty result sets and cause updates and inserts to execute without violating uniqueness or referential integrity constraints. Based on the SQL statements in the application, test generation queries are generated; execution of these queries yields test inputs with the desired properties. The test generation algorithm is described and illustrated by an example. The technique has been implemented and experimental evaluation is in progress.