A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN JAVA TESTING ACHIEVED
WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF PARASOFT'S JCONTRACT AND JTEST 4.0
New tools automate functionality testing and help
Java developers implement and test software using Design by Contract
MONROVIA, CA (April 18, 2001) - ParaSoft, leading provider of error prevention
and error detection software, announced today the release of Jtest 4.0 and
a new Java™ development tool, Jcontract. The new version of Jtest, an
award winning automatic unit testing tool for Java, automates unit level
functionality using the Design by Contract™ (DbC) format specification
information included in the class. Jcontract, a Jtest add-on or stand alone
tool, can verify system-level functionality and identify class/component
misuse by checking DbC contracts at runtime.
DbC is a technological breakthrough in software engineering; it is used
commonly in the Eiffel programming language and widely considered good
software development practice. 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; in particular, it is expected to increase the overall
reliability of software applications. A major component of quality in
software is its reliability, which boils down to whether or not the
application can perform according to specification and can handle unexpected
exceptions. Put simply, reliability is the absence of bugs. Jtest and
Jcontract are tools designed to help developers make this happen.
Jtest 4.0 - Truly automated unit level black-box (functionality) testing
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.
In addition to automating functionality testing, Jtest automates white-box
(construction) and regression testing; it also performs static analysis.
White-box testing validates that unexpected inputs do not initiate program
crashes. Regression testing verifies that code performs according to
specification after changes have been introduced. Static analysis checks
whether code adheres to over 240 industry-respected Java coding standards
that prevent errors.
Other new features include the integration with IBM's VisualAge® for Java
and added static analysis rules for Enterprise JavaBeans™ (EJBs), DbC,
servlets and project metrics.
Jcontract - System level functionality testing using DbC
Jcontract enables Java developers to perform functionality testing at the
system level using DbC. After using Jtest to thoroughly test a class or
component at the unit level, Jcontract will 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. When used in conjunction with Jtest, 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."
Availability
Jtest starts at $3,495 and is available for Windows NT/2000/98/ME, Solaris and
Linux. Jcontract starts at $1,500 and is available for Windows NT/2000.
Jtest and Jcontract together start at $4,495.
About ParaSoft ParaSoft Corporation develops and markets
advanced error prevention and error detection tools for UNIX, Windows and
Internet development environments. ParaSoft's award-winning products and
patented technologies assist developers and managers in improving software
quality, accelerating time to market and reducing development costs.
ParaSoft's headquarters is located at 2031 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia, CA
91016. Telephone (888) 305-0041. Fax (626) 305-3036. Email to: pr@parasoft.com. URL:
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Jtest and ParaSoft are registered trademarks of ParaSoft. Jcontract is a
trademark of ParaSoft. All other products, services, companies, events
and publications are trademarks, registered trademarks or servicemarks of
their respective owners in the U.S. and/or other countries.
Editor's note: Jtest and Jcontract screenshots and review copies available
Press Contact: Paula Moggio (626) 256-3680 Ext. 1271
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