Method and system for semi-automatic testing of program code for graphical user interfaces

A semi-automatic method for testing program code for graphical user interfaces by a dedicated software tool, the program code defining a system under test with a plurality of components and respective attributes, the method comprising:

• a) providing the program code;
• b) executing the program code on a computer, and capturing at least one current state of the system under test, wherein the current state comprises all available components and all attributes of the components except for components that are specifically not selected;
• c) providing a modified version of the program code, thus providing a modified system under test;
• d) executing the modified program code on the computer and capturing a modified state of the modified system under test;
• e) comparing the current state of the system under test and the modified state of the modified system under test and detecting changes in the system under test, said changes corresponding to differences between the current state of the system under test and the modified state of the system under test;
• f) displaying at least part of the detected changes to a user on a display and soliciting corresponding user input in terms of applying or discarding the displayed changes;
• and
• g) applying or discarding the detected changes based on a corresponding user input on an input device by automatically updating the current state of the system under test,
• wherein at least some of the detected changes are grouped according to predetermined characteristics, and are displayed only once for a given group of changes for approval or discarding by the user, and
• wherein at least some of the detected changes are grouped by attribute type and are applied to a current state of a plurality of the components comprising an element with a given attribute type with one corresponding approving user input.

A semi-automatic method for testing program code for graphical user interfaces by a dedicated software tool, the program code defining a system under test with a plurality of components and respective attributes, the method comprising:

• a) providing the program code;
• b) executing the program code on a computer, and capturing at least one current state of the system under test, wherein the current state comprises all available components and all attributes of the components except for components that are specifically not selected;
• c) providing a modified version of the program code, thus providing a modified system under test;
• d) executing the modified program code on the computer and capturing a modified state of the modified system under test;
• e) comparing the current state of the system under test and the modified state of the modified system under test and detecting changes in the system under test, said changes corresponding to differences between the current state of the system under test and the modified state of the system under test;
• f) displaying at least part of the detected changes to a user on a display and soliciting corresponding user input in terms of applying or discarding the displayed changes;
• and
• g) applying or discarding the detected changes based on a corresponding user input on an input device by automatically updating the current state of the system under test,
• wherein at least some of the detected changes are grouped according to predetermined characteristics, and are displayed only once for a given group of changes for approval or discarding by the user, and
• wherein at least some of the detected changes are grouped by component type and are applied to a current state of a plurality of the components of a given type with one corresponding approving user input.