Automated testing as an aid to systems integration

Within BT's Systems Integration department, the integration and resting of large, complex software systems often requires large and complex test regimes. Optimising the activities and time-scales within this part of the life cycle will invariably involve the application of test tools. This paper sets our the main Elements required for successful test automation. It begins by introducing test complexity measures in process testing of a character-based user interface software system. This is then developed to describe a theoretical approach to the application of test automation in the context of graphical user interface (GUI) software systems and discusses methodologies for test-case design and reuse, to achieve the maximum benefit of tool utilisation. The paper concludes with a description of the successful application of test automation within two major systems integration projects, Work Manager and MCSS for Cambridge.