Software fault localization based on hierarchical slicing

A novel HSM (hierarchical slicing model)-based fault localization technique is proposed for object-oriented programs. Firstly, the scope of fault localization is reduced by deleting packages, classes and methods which have passed the tests, then the reduced program will be partitioned into some modules based on AST (abstract syntax tree) by analyzing statements, and further, the number of variables within each module are computed independently. Then, execution history is computed based on a set of test cases. Finally, according to the size of the variables used in the modules, the intersection of each module and its backward slice are iteratively calculated using the SSA (stepwise slicing algorithm) until faults are eventually localized. Experimental results show that: the method can locate the most faults early, especially in the program with less method calling relationship. The SSA is called iteratively in the program where the method is called more frequently. Thus, the efficiency is reduced.