Using Genetic Algorithm as Test Data Generator for Stored PL/SQL Program Units

Abstract

PL/SQL is the most common language for ORACLE database application. It allows the developer to create stored pro-gram units (Procedures, Functions, and Packages) to improve software reusability and hide the complexity of the execu-tion of a specific operation behind a name. Also, it acts as an interface between SQL database and DEVELOPER. Therefore, it is important to test these modules that consist of procedures and functions. In this paper, a new genetic algorithm (GA), as search technique, is used in order to find the required test data according to branch criteria to test stored PL/SQL program units. The experimental results show that this was not fully achieved, such that the test target in some branches is not reached and the coverage percentage is 98%. A problem rises when target branch is depending on data retrieved from tables; in this case, GA is not able to generate test cases for this branch.