Change Impact Analysis for Distributed Object-Oriented Software Using DPDG

Abstract

Change impact analysis allows finding of the minimum number of components impacted by the changes. In this thesis, we analyze the change impact in object-oriented software in distributed environments, and propose DPDG and DPDG firewall, and design VIST test support tool using DPDG firewall. DPDG is an extended mapping graph applied in an existing firewall and shows the extent of the changes in the distributed environment and the interaction of the software elements. DPDG firewall locates software elements which need to be retested through DPDG when change occurs in softwares in distributed environments, therefore, DPDG firewall saves cost and time in retesting, and assigns priority of retesting among impacted elements. Assigned priority is also used for retesting in VIST. VIST is a tool which supports testing and change in software at the maintenance stage, shows the range of impact by changes in software and the environments in which only the impacted elements are tested in sequence. As such, VIST allows testing of software in distributed environments more easily and supports accurate and effective regression testing.