Volume 13, Issue 3, May/June 2001

ParaSoft recently released Insure++ v6.0, the popular automatic runtime error detection tool for C/C++ development. Insure++ v6.0 for Windows features Chaperon, a new technology which provides a quick and efficient check of non-instrumented executables.

The new, time-saving Chaperon mode exposes errors such as memory corruption, memory leaks, pointer errors, and I/O errors in non-instrumented executable files without requiring any recompiling or relinking. Chaperon quickly provides a check of all data memory references made by a process, whether in compiled code, language support routines, or shared or archived libraries. Additionally, it detects and reports reads of uninitialized memory, reads or writes that are not within the bounds of allocated blocks, and allocation errors such as memory leaks.

The addition of a second, swift checking mode adds flexibility to Insure++’s acclaimed error detection abilities. Developers can now choose which error detection mode—Chaperon or Source Code Instrumentation—is right for them depending on their development schedule and their desired depth of analysis. Chaperon can be used throughout the development cycle to quickly locate problematic areas, while Source Code Instrumentation provides an exhaustive check of a developer’s code.

“Insure++’s new Chaperon technology is designed to further streamline the development process by saving time and money spent on debugging,” said Thomas Chen, Vice President of Development Tools for ParaSoft Corporation. “The added flexibility of having two error detection modes benefits the developer who is working under a tight development schedule and still demands the highest quality software possible.”

Insure++ also comes with two popular and val uabl e add-on modules. Inuse graphically monitors a p r o g r a m ’s memory allocation and aids with memory optimization. TCA (Total Coverage Analysis) shows which files, functions and statements have been executed and, more importantly, which have not.

Insure++ v6.0 is currently available for Windows NT and 2000. Other platforms are available with other versions. For more information please contact ParaSoft at (888) 305-0041 or e-mail info@parasoft.com

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ParaSoft and Expertcity Inc., a leading provider of Web-based remote assistance and customer support solutions, recently joined forces to enhance ParaSoft’s Jtest online support site to include DesktopStreaming.com technology. Now Jtest users have access to instant, real-time technical support and consulting from live ParaSoft technical experts.

In an ongoing effort to provide their customers with the highest level of service, ParaSoft selected Expertcity’s DesktopStreaming.com technology to enhance its online technical service. This offering will increase the ways in which Jtest users can seek technical support and ask questions about the tool’s functionality. Because it can be difficult for sales and support representatives to resolve technical matters or thoroughly illustrate a product feature from a remote location, ParaSoft has teamed up with Expertcity to allow users the option to virtually share their screen, keyboard and mouse with ParaSoft technical representatives.

“ParaSoft is constantly striving to provide our customers with the most advanced technology available,” said Thomas Chen, ParaSoft Vice President of Development Tools. “Now with DesktopStreaming, our customers can have our technical experts literally show them how a product functions as well as offer visual answers to any technical questions they may have without them ever having to leave their desk or pick up the telephone.”

Expertcity’s proprietary DesktopStreaming technology enables support representatives to chat in real-time with their users and quickly escalate to desktop sharing, which features mutual mouse and keyboard control as well as white board capability. The technology supports all major platforms including Windows, Linux, Solaris and Macintosh.

To contact a live ParaSoft technical expert courtesy of Expertcity's DesktopStreaming technology, go to experts

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ParaSoft’s Jtest, an automatic unit testing tool for Java, was awarded Software Development Magazine’s Productivity Award in the “Utilities” category. The Jolt Excellence and Productivity Awards were announced at a ceremony held April 11th at the Software Development Conference in San Jose, CA.

"The Jolt and Productivity Awads this year continue the tradition of recognizing important new development paradigrams like lightweight methodogies, support for multiple operating system platforms, and innovative modeling solutions. The Productivity Award given to ParaSoft's Jtest-on the heels of the Jolt Award it received last year-shows that testing continues to be a fundamental part of any serious development practice,” said Roger Smith, Technical Editor and Jolt Judge for Software Development Magazine.

In recent years Jtest has garnered great respect throughout the Java development community. Along with numerous favorable product reviews in leading publications such as Software Development, Java Report, Web Techniques and Java Developer’s Journal, Jtest has been honored with several industry - respected awards. Last year Jtest won “Best of Show” at the first annual JavaPlus conference, Software Business m a g a z i n e ’s “Best Development Tool” award and the coveted 10th annual Jolt Award for “Best Utility. ”

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ParaSoft recently released Jtest v4.0 and Jcontract v1.0, a new Java development tool. The new version of Jtest automates unit-level functionality testing using the Design by Contract™ (DbC) format specification information included in the class. Jcontract, a stand alone tool that is complementary to Jtest, verifies system-level functionality and identifies class/component misuse by checking DbC contracts at runtime.

DbC is a formal way of using comments to incorporate specification information into the code itself. Basically, the code specification is expressed using a formal language that describes the code’s implicit contracts. DbC promises to dramatically affect the way software is developed by increasing the overall reliability of software applications.

In addition to automatically performing white-box testing, regression testing, and static code analysis, Jtest is now capable of automatically performing black-box testing. Black-box testing ensures that methods in a class function as intended. Jtest automates black-box testing by reading specification information built into the class with DbC language, then automatically creating and executing test cases to verify the functionality described in the specifications. Jtest is the first development tool of its type to automate black-box testing of Java classes. This new version also features integration with IBM’s VisualAge for Java, added static analysis rules for Enterprise JavaBeans™ (EJBs), DbC and servlets, and the ability to graph how project metrics change over time.

Jcontract helps perform functionality testing at the system level using DbC. Use Jtest to thoroughly test a class or component at the unit level, then use Jcontract to instrument and compile the DbC-commented code. Once a class or component is instrumented, Jcontract automatically checks whether its contracts are violated at runtime. Jcontract is particularly useful for determining whether an application misuses specific classes or components. Jcontract helps automate functionality testing of Java applications and improves the overall testing of components, such as EJBs.

“The integration of Jcontract with Jtest will make dynamic testing much more feasible,” commented Mark Meuer Software Engineer for Life Navigator and Beta tester for Jtest and Jcontract. “The lack of a DbC feature like this in earlier versions of Jtest prevented us from using it to its full potential on our projects.”

To get more information on Jtest v4.0 or Jcontract, contact ParaSoft at 888-305-0041 or send an e-mail info@parasoft.com

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When you perform unit testing, how do you know when the units have been fully exercised ? Generally, you can be sure that full coverage has been achieved when you perform the following three tasks.

First, check if you have a test case for each entry in the functional specification to ensure that all functionality is tested. If not, create test cases for any entries that don’t have them. If the specification states that a unit should perform in a particular way, determine if the unit really does. For example, if a unit returns negative values when it’s supposed to return only positive values, then it will have to be fixed.

Second, check how the unit responds to a wide range of inputs. It is often assumed that particular types of inputs (such as null values or values exceeding the acceptable range) will not occur. But they do. So if a unit crashes from unexpected input, it will need to be fixed so that it can handle that input appropriately.

Third, determine whether the test cases cover all the branches of the unit. Despite the apparent difficulty, aiming for 100% coverage is not unreasonable. This degree of coverage is possible in most situations because, when you test at the unit level, it is easier to design inputs that reach all of the methods. If they don’t, design and execute test cases that do; this will require the creation of more scaffolding, and possibly more stubs.

The tasks required to fully exercise the unit can be difficult to perform manually. But there are a number of methods that can automate unit testing and gauge coverage.

While no testing procedure is prefect. focusing on these three aspects of unit testing will insure that the time you devoted to designing and building test cases is well-spent. When your unit pass the test cases, you can be confident that they have been thoroughly exercised. As a result, the software you develop will be extremely reliable and superior in quality.

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ParaSoft's headquarters is located at:

2031 South Myrtle Avenue
Monrovia, CA 91016

Toll free: (888) 305-0041
Phone: (626) 305-0041
Fax: (626) 305-3036
Email: info@parasoft.com

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