Developing the Basic Verification Action (BVA) Structure Towards Test Oracle Automation

This paper proposes the Basic Verification Action (BVA) structure to verify outcomes produced during and at the end of test cases execution. BVA items are determined, stored and maintained as external entities to the actual test cases, forming a metadata repository comprised of a combination of technical and business knowledge of the software application. When applied to the final outcomes of the test case, the verification items actually represent the test oracle. Although the proposed model may not address all types of test oracles, it is posited that there is a significant number of cases where it is applicable. In these cases, applying the proposed mechanism can lead to more efficient testing, eventually driving test oracle automation. Benefits and shortcomings of using BVAs are discussed.