testIDEA: RealTime-UnitTest
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testIDEA deals with the smallest testable parts of an application, which is usually a function. It's greatest value is in early detection of problems, because finding the error in the integrated module is much more complicated than finding the same error in an isolated unit. Furthermore, fixing small problems every few hours takes less time than fixing huge problems just before the deadline.
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To perform Embedded Software Tests, iSYSTEM provides testIDEA. It expands iSYSTEM’s debug and trace tools for software development (which encloses the complete iSYSTEM Blue Box hardware) and allows the execution of test cases and test vectors on the real customer hardware without code instrumentation – other tools usually instrument the code.
Primarily testIDEA is a free and open programming interface (API) that is completely integrated in winIDEA. With that API set one can write test applications/cases but also automatically execute them on customer’s hardware connected by iSYSTEM tools. Test applications, test cases and the accordant test reports can be written in many different programming and scripting languages (Python, Java, C/C++, C#, Perl, TCL…).
testIDEA also includes an interactive editor for generating test cases and test reports that can be directly called from winIDEA. With that GUI test cases can be created without any programming know-how. testIDEA stores the test cases as YAML (YAML Ain‘t Markup Language) files which is a description language similar to XML, but easier to read and to process in other languages. E.g. YAML files can be included in Python exactly as they are and therefore they are reusable in an executable mode.
testIDEA is used within the familiar development environment directly at the developer’s workplace. A developer can accomplish unit tests (tests on the smallest, testable entity) in their different variants like Black Box (function code is unknown) and White Box (function code is known, code coverage) test.
The major advantage of non-instrumented unit tests is the fast turn-around-time because the tests can run without compilation, linking and download. In addition no test drivers are needed and therefore no additional resources are used on the target system. Functions like tracing, profiling and code coverage analysis can be integrated into the test cases. This expands the operation area of iSYSTEM test technology from unit testing to integration and system testing.
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