On the Use of Test Cases in Model-Based Software Product Line Development

We address the question of how to select test cases in a controlled model-based software product line development process. CVL, the common variability language, provides a framework for materialization of product models from a given variability model and resolution model. Reflecting common practice, we assume that test case development for product line is independent from product development. In such a setting, the question arises which test cases can be applied to which products. To this end, we describe a procedure and tool set for assigning the outcome of a test case on an arbitrary member of a software product line using UML base and CVL variability models. As a case study, we demonstrate our approach with the example of a product line of automatic espresso machines.