Necessary Outputs for Each Test Scenario

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 148 views

Introduction

Regression testing is a crucial aspect of software development that ensures that changes made to the codebase do not introduce new bugs or affect existing functionality. In this article, we will discuss how to support regression testing and create a test suite for a given scenario. We will explore the current limitations of the run_scenarios script and outline the necessary steps to create a comprehensive test suite that can be used for regression testing.

Current Limitations of `run_scenarios` Script

The run_scenarios script is currently used to execute a set of scenarios that test various capabilities of GSS with vehicles and pedestrians. However, this script cannot be used as an automated test suite. To overcome this limitation, we need to modify the script to save the necessary outputs for each test scenario. These outputs will be used to compare with the expected results later on.

Necessary Outputs for Each Test Scenario

For each test scenario, we need to save the following outputs:

violations.json: This file will capture the expected results, including whether no violations are expected or expecting collisions, etc.
summary.json: This file will contain statistics about scenario execution, including execution time, result pass or fail, and other scenario execution properties of interest (frequencies, etc.).

Initial Setup

Initially, we generate these files, edit them to set the expectations (e.g., if there was a timeout but it is not expected, it has to be removed), and we commit these files. This will serve as a baseline for our regression testing.

Automated Testing as Part of CI Workflow

Later, when running the tests, we can compare the current outputs with the saved ones to detect any changes (e.g., whether a new violation was reported). If the new files are correct, we can commit them for reference. This will enable us to run automated testing as part of our CI workflow.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Test Suite

To create a comprehensive test suite, follow these steps:

Step 1: Modify the `run_scenarios` Script

Modify the run_scenarios script to save the necessary outputs for each test scenario. This will involve adding code to generate the violations.json and summary.json files.

Step 2: Set Expectations

Edit the generated files to set the expectations for each test scenario. This will involve removing any unexpected results, such as timeouts.

Step 3: Commit the Files

Commit the generated files to the repository. This will serve as a baseline for our regression testing.

Step 4: Run Automated Testing

Run the automated tests using the modified run_scenarios script. This will compare the current outputs with the saved ones to detect any changes.

Step 5: Commit New Files

If the new files are correct, commit them for reference. This will enable us to track any changes made to the codebase.

Benefits of Regression Testing

Regression testing provides several benefits, including:

Early Detection of Bugs: Regression testing helps detect bugs early in the development cycle, reducing the risk of introducing new bugs.
Improved Code Quality: Regression testing ensures that changes made to the codebase do not affect existing functionality.
Reduced Maintenance Costs: Regression testing reduces the maintenance costs associated with fixing bugs and resolving issues.

Conclusion

In conclusion, supporting regression testing and creating a test suite is crucial for ensuring the quality and reliability of software applications. By following the steps outlined in this article, we can create a comprehensive test suite that can be used for regression testing. This will enable us to run automated testing as part of our CI workflow, reducing the risk of introducing new bugs and improving code quality.

Future Work

Future work will involve:

Expanding the Test Suite: Expanding the test suite to cover more scenarios and use cases.
Improving Test Automation: Improving test automation to reduce the time and effort required to run the tests.
Integrating with CI/CD Pipeline: Integrating the test suite with the CI/CD pipeline to enable automated testing as part of the build and deployment process.

Q: What is regression testing?

A: Regression testing is a type of software testing that involves re-running tests on a software application after changes have been made to ensure that the changes have not introduced new bugs or affected existing functionality.

Q: Why is regression testing important?

A: Regression testing is important because it helps detect bugs early in the development cycle, reduces the risk of introducing new bugs, improves code quality, and reduces maintenance costs associated with fixing bugs and resolving issues.

Q: What are the benefits of regression testing?

A: The benefits of regression testing include:

Early Detection of Bugs: Regression testing helps detect bugs early in the development cycle, reducing the risk of introducing new bugs.
Improved Code Quality: Regression testing ensures that changes made to the codebase do not affect existing functionality.
Reduced Maintenance Costs: Regression testing reduces the maintenance costs associated with fixing bugs and resolving issues.

Q: How do I create a test suite for regression testing?

A: To create a test suite for regression testing, follow these steps:

Modify the run_scenarios Script: Modify the run_scenarios script to save the necessary outputs for each test scenario.
Set Expectations: Edit the generated files to set the expectations for each test scenario.
Commit the Files: Commit the generated files to the repository.
Run Automated Testing: Run the automated tests using the modified run_scenarios script.
Commit New Files: If the new files are correct, commit them for reference.

Q: What are the necessary outputs for each test scenario?

A: The necessary outputs for each test scenario include:

violations.json: This file will capture the expected results, including whether no violations are expected or expecting collisions, etc.
summary.json: This file will contain statistics about scenario execution, including execution time, result pass or fail, and other scenario execution properties of interest (frequencies, etc.).

Q: How do I integrate regression testing with my CI/CD pipeline?

A: To integrate regression testing with your CI/CD pipeline, follow these steps:

Modify the CI/CD Pipeline: Modify the CI/CD pipeline to include the regression testing script.
Run the Regression Testing Script: Run the regression testing script as part of the CI/CD pipeline.
Fail the Build if Tests Fail: Fail the build if the regression tests fail.

Q: What are the best practices for regression testing?

A: The best practices for regression testing include:

Test Early and Often: Test early and often to detect bugs early in the development cycle.
Test Thoroughly: Test thoroughly to ensure that changes made to the codebase do not affect existing functionality.
Use Automated Testing: Use automated testing to reduce the time and effort required to run the tests.

Q: What are the common challenges associated with regression testing?

A: The common challenges associated with regression testing include:

Test Maintenance: Test maintenance can be time-consuming and challenging.
Test Automation: Test automation can be difficult to implement and maintain.
Test Data Management: Test data management can be challenging, especially when dealing with large datasets.

Q: How do I overcome the challenges associated with regression testing?

A: To overcome the challenges associated with regression testing, follow these steps:

Use Automated Testing: Use automated testing to reduce the time and effort required to run the tests.
Use Test Data Management Tools: Use test data management tools to manage test data effectively.
Use Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): Use CI/CD to automate the testing and deployment process.