ELASTEST - ElasTest: an elastic platform for testing complex distributed large software systems (DIT.AD001.062)
Thematic area
Engineering, ICT and technologies for energy and transportation
Project area
Dispositivi e Sistemi ICT (DIT.AD001)Structure responsible for the research project
Institute of information science and technologies "Alessandro Faedo" (ISTI)
Other structures collaborating in the research project
Project manager
ANTONIA BERTOLINO
Phone number: +39 050 621 2914
Email: antonia.bertolino@isti.cnr.it
Abstract
The demand for larger and more interconnected software systems is constantly increasing, but the ability of developers to satisfy it is not evolving accordingly. The most limiting factor is software validation, which typically requires very costly and complex testing processes. This project aims at significantly improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the testing process and, with it, the overall quality of large software systems. For this, we propose to apply the "divide-and-conquer" principle, commonly used for architecting complex software, to testing as well, by developing a novel test orchestration theory and toolbox enabling the creation of complex test suites as the composition of simple testing units. This test orchestration mechanism is complemented with a number of tools that include: (1) enabling to reproduce real-world operational conditions thanks to features such as Packet Loss as a Service, Network Latency as a Service, Failure as a Service, etc.; (2) Reusable testing services solving common testing problems; (3) Cognitive computing and machine learning mechanisms. The ElasTest platform thus created shall be released as a flexible Free Open Source Software.
Goals
ElasTest is a cloud platform designed for helping developers to test and validate large systems, while maintaining compatibility with current copntinuous integration practices and tools. For this, ElasTest bases on three principles: (1) instrumentation; (2) test orchestration; and (3) test recommendation. The project practical objectives are set as follows:
-To improve the efficiency, productivity and code reusability of the testing process of large software systems
-To improve the effectiveness of the testing process and, with it, the quality of tested software.
-To develop and release ElasTest: a cloud platform designed for being helpful in the testing and validation of large systems
-To demonstrate ElasTest applicability, usability, flexibility, efficiency and effectiveness in relevant industrial application domains
Start date of activity
01/01/2017
Keywords
Software testing, test orchestration, cloud computing, cloud instrumentation,, runtime verification, security, machine learning,
Last update: 28/05/2025