Formal methods in testing software architectures

SAs provide a high-level model of large, complex systems using suitable abstractions of the system components and their interactions. SA dynamic descriptions can be usefully employed in testing and analysis. We describe here an approach for SA-based conformance testing: architectural tests are selected from a Labelled Transition System (LTS) representing the SA behavior and are then refined into concrete tests to be executed on the implemented system. To identify the test sequences, we derive abstract views of the LTS, called the ALTSs, to focus on relevant classes of architectural behaviors and hide away uninteresting interactions. The SA description of a Collaborative Writing system is used as an example of application. We also briefly discuss the relation of our approach with some recent research in exploiting the standard UML notation as an Architectural Description Language, and in conformance testing of reactive systems.