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		   PSU Computer Science Colloquium
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		   Monday, October 19, 1992, 4 PM
		   -------------------------------
		   SBA 290, SW 6th and SW Harrison
		  (For parking info, call 725-4036)


		     Testing Software that Reuses

			     Brian Marick
			 Testing Foundations

ABSTRACT: 
The producer of reusable software provides a part of the product built
by a software developer (here called the "consumer").  The producer
tests this reusable part, but the consumer must test the rest.  This
talk addresses the question of how the producer can help the consumer
test.
A sound testing strategy uses past experience to predict likely faults
in a new or modified program.  An empirically important class of
faults is caused when programmers misuse interfaces, especially by
omitting needed code.  Reusable software producers provide interfaces.
They are in the best position to record programmer errors in a catalog
of reusable "test conditions".  The consumer can then design test
cases by combining the producer's test conditions with other test
conditions derived from the rest of the product.  Reuse is important
because of economics.  I will discuss how coverage tools and test
conditions can work together to reduce the consumer's cost of finding
faults, especially during maintenance.

BIOGRAPHY:
Brian Marick worked in industry for ten years as a tester, developer,
and line manager, mostly on operating systems and compilers.  Joint
research with the University of Illinois led to internal consulting
and then the creation of Testing Foundations.  It exists to help
companies acquire essential testing skills and tools.  Because
practitioners are justifiably suspicious of those who talk about
software development but never actually do any, he spends half his
time building and maintaining tools, some freely available.