A prototype system for the validation of Pascal programs

Author

Wilkinson, T. ; Bouchard, J.A. ; Byrne, B.A. ; Hennell, M.A. ; Jackson, P. ; O´Neill, Gerald ; Parkin, G.I. ; Wichmann, B.A.

Author_Institution

Div. of Inf. Technol. & Comput., NPL, Teddington, UK

Volume

3

Issue

2

fYear

1988

fDate

3/1/1988 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

47

Lastpage

52

Abstract

Gives an overview of a collaborative Alvey project to provide a UNIX-based environment in which Pascal programs can be analysed using a range of quality assessment tools. Integration of this tool set is achieved by linking the analysis and status information produced by each tool into a message handling system. An interactive program allows the validator to selectively view the analysis results. The system is intended for independent, post-development assessment of the quality of Pascal programs plus test data; however, most of the tools would also be helpful during the program development phase. The tools provide various types of static source text analysis and dynamic analysis using the given test data. Some initial results obtained from this validation system are described

Keywords

Pascal; program testing; research initiatives; software reliability; software tools; Alvey project; Pascal programs; Unix environment; dynamic analysis; interactive program; message handling system; post-development assessment; program development; program validation; quality assessment tools; software tools; source text analysis; static analysis; test data; tool set;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Software Engineering Journal

Publisher

iet

ISSN

0268-6961

Type

jour

Filename

6889