The reusable test library and how to use it

In 1996, Boeing began an effort to develop a reusable test library (RTL) for functional test requirements (FTR) and functional test program (FTP) development. The RTL was developed on the Intranet to take advantage of commercial formats and browsers. The intranet provides access for test engineers in multiple locations on a variety of platforms. The RTL is continuing to evolve, looking at how to better develop FTRs and FTPs with the RTL in a more automated fashion. This paper discusses the development of automated tools to develop FTRs and FTPs from reusable test objects. It talks about customer participation, determining ''Best-in-class'' library elements and development and use of existing technologies for rapid prototyping. It also discusses some of the challenges to implementing an effective RTL, and how these challenges are being overcome.