Enhancing Fault Localization via Multivariate Visualization

The majority of dynamic software analyses are implemented in the form of fully-automated techniques. Given the limited success of many of these techniques, we explore the use of visualization as the basis for alternative techniques. Specifically, we investigate the use of multivariate visualization scatter plots, which aim at presenting high dimensional data in low dimensions (e.g., 2D). For example, to visualize the similarity between test cases, where a test is represented as a scatter point, the execution profiles induced by the test cases are compared in order to calculate similarity metrics that will characterize the distances between the scatter points. This type of scatter plots was previously presented by other researchers who also suggested their use in several software analyses. This work considers these scatter plots in: 1) identifying coincidentally correct tests which are a safety reducing factor in coverage based fault localization, and 2) outlining a user aided visualization-based fault localization technique. Other applications of multivariate visualization to software analysis will also be discussed.