Research Article

Testing with model checkers: a survey

  1. Gordon Fraser1,*,
  2. Franz Wotawa1,
  3. Paul E. Ammann2

Article first published online: 11 DEC 2008

DOI: 10.1002/stvr.402

Issue

Software Testing, Verification and Reliability

Software Testing, Verification and Reliability

Volume 19, Issue 3, pages 215–261, September 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Fraser, G., Wotawa, F. and Ammann, P. E. (2009), Testing with model checkers: a survey. Softw. Test. Verif. Reliab., 19: 215–261. doi: 10.1002/stvr.402

Author Information

  1. 1

    Institute for Software Technology, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 16b/2, A-8010 Graz, Austria

  2. 2

    Computer Science Department, MS 4A4, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, U.S.A.

*Institute for Software Technology, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 16b/2, A-8010 Graz, Austria

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 27 AUG 2009
  2. Article first published online: 11 DEC 2008
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 1 OCT 2008
  4. Manuscript Revised: 29 SEP 2008
  5. Manuscript Received: 2 NOV 2007

Funded by

  • Austrian Federal Ministry of Economics
  • Province of Styria
  • Steirische Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft mbH
  • Center for Innovation and Technology, Vienna

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Keywords:

  • automated testing;
  • model checking;
  • test case generation;
  • software testing

Abstract

About a decade after the initial proposal to use model checkers for the generation of test cases we take a look at the results in this field of research. Model checkers are formal verification tools, capable of providing counterexamples to violated properties. Normally, these counterexamples are meant to guide an analyst when searching for the root cause of a property violation. They are, however, also very useful as test cases. Many different approaches have been presented, many problems have been solved, yet many issues remain. This survey paper reviews the state of the art in testing with model checkers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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