Slicing component-based systems

We present a dependence model based on which an efficient slicing algorithm is applied to compute forward slices for impact analysis and for regression test selection. The dependence model not only captures control and data dependence relationships, but also depicts dependence between components and their execution contexts. The model is constructed in a hierarchical fashion, from inter-statement to intercomponent level, where at each level detailed dependence relationships are analyzed, then summarized information is published for the next level of composition. With this model, our slicing algorithm identifies all the affected elements that can be utilized to effectively select regression test cases. The analysis shows that our approach is more efficient than the existing approaches in terms of the execution time and the space requirements. And the promising results of regression testing obtained from the case study demonstrate the great potential of our technique in effective maintenance of complex component-based systems.