We present a regression test selection technique for C# programs. C# is fairly new and is often used within the Microsoft .Net framework to give programmers a solid base to develop a variety of applications. Regression testing is done after modifying a program. Regression test selection refers to selecting a suitable subset of test cases from the original test suite in order to be rerun. It aims to provide confidence that the modifications are correct and did not affect other unmodified parts of the program. The regression test selection technique presented in this paper accounts for C#.Net specific features. Our technique is based on three phases; the first phase builds an Affected Class Diagram consisting of classes that are affected by the change in the source code. The second phase builds a C# Interclass Graph (CIG) from the affected class diagram based on C# specific features. In this phase, we reduce the number of selected test cases. The third phase involves further reduction and a new metric for assigning weights to test cases for prioritizing the selected test cases. We have empirically validated the proposed technique by using case studies. The empirical results show the usefulness of the proposed regression testing technique for C#.Net programs.

Testing software is an important part of the production life cycle of a program. Testing is an expensive activity. Hence, appropriate testing methods are necessary for ensuring the reliability of a program. Regression testing aims to provide confidence in the correctness of a program after its modification. During the initial development of the program, a set T = {t1,t2,…,tN } of N test cases is saved and a table of test case-method coverage information can be determined. After a program is modified, regression test selection requires a subset of test cases, R, to be selected from T for rerunning on the modified program with the objective of providing confidence that no unintended effects have been caused by the modification.

It would be costly for regression testing to repeat the whole set of test cases T used in the initial development of the program and unreliable to choose a random subset of test cases from T. Therefore, it is necessary to select a suitable subset of test cases from T to run. Regression test selection reduces the cost of testing by focusing on the changes that take place in the program.

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