A framework for object oriented component testing

Component based software systems are becoming prevalent at a rapid pace. This advance not only expedites the efficient development of large software systems, it also enhances reusability. With it comes the need to adequately test these components based on their application and integration in each system. The unavailability of source code precludes extrapolating standard testing approaches, and requires developing procedures that provide each user with sufficient information to allow adequate testing in each usage environment. In this paper, an object oriented component test framework is proposed that relies on utilization of discrete descriptors to facilitate test execution and to enable a uniform information flow. The component provider, user and third party tester, each have responsibility for descriptors unique to their perspective, eliminating the dilemma of missing testing information.