mutate: list all tests that kill mutants in a specific C/C++ function

[christoffer-nylen]

The user wants to know which tests are being used to verify a specific C/C++ function in the software under test.

Assume:

• There is a function foo() where there are a lot of surviving mutants and some killed mutants.
• The user has been tasked with investigating if new requiremnets, new tests or fixing a test is needed.
• There is a "dedicated test" that kills only 1 mutant in foo() that needs to be improved.
• The user does not yet know about the "dedicated test".
• There are serveral tests (for example integration tests) that kill other mutants in the function.

Current Approach:

• The user scrolls through the function and inspects all killed mutants one at a time.

Problems:

• It takes time to get a complete list of the test candidates.
• It is easy to miss the dedicated test -> Instead of fixing the dedicated test, the user might write a redundant test -> Increased maintenance costs.

Suggestions

Approach 1: Improve the HTML report

Approach 1.1: Using the "code view"

Generate a C/C++ function summary (similar to the killed by test list), that can be expanded for the function of interrest.

Approach 1.2: Using a new C/C++ function view

Generate a new page with a large table where files, C/C++ functions are and mapped test cases are listed.

Approach 2: Command-line interface

The user specifies the name of a C/C++ function in the SUT and retrieves a list of all tests that kill mutants in that function.