Use of attribute sets for test entity identification during software testing

A computer system including instructions recorded on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and readable by at least one processor, the system comprising:

• an attribute collector configured to cause the at least one processor to collect an attribute set for each test entity of a plurality of test entities, the attribute sets being included in outputs of a first instance of a software test testing functionality of a software application and executed in a software environment;
• an attribute analysis signal handler configured to cause the at least one processor to receive an attribute analysis signal associated with a change in the software environment, the change causing an incompatibility with an affected test entity of the plurality of test entities;
• and
• a view generator configured to cause the at least one processor to provide an attribute-based view associated with an affected attribute set associated with the change, the attribute-based view providing the affected attribute set as being included in outputs of a second instance of the software test testing the functionality of the software application and executed in the software environment, and thereby identifying the affected test entity as requiring an update to maintain compatibility with the software environment after the change,
• wherein the change is associated with a software object of the software application within the software environment for which attributes are collected, and wherein the system includes an attribute comparator configured to provide a comparison of the affected attribute set with the attributes collected for the software object and included in a corresponding attribute set of the attribute sets,
• the system further including an entity identifier configured to receive the comparison and to identify the affected test entity based thereon.

A computer-implemented method for causing at least one processor to execute instructions recorded on a computer-readable storage medium, the method comprising:

• collecting an attribute set for each test entity of a plurality of test entities, the attribute sets being included in outputs of a first instance of a software test testing functionality of a software application and executed in a software environment;
• receiving an attribute analysis signal associated with a change in the software environment, the change causing an incompatibility with an affected test entity of the plurality of test entities;
• and
• providing an attribute-based view associated with an affected attribute set associated with the change, the attribute-based view providing the affected attribute set as being included in outputs of a second instance of the software test testing the functionality of the software application and executed in the software environment, and thereby identifying the affected test entity as requiring an update to maintain compatibility with the software environment after the change,
• wherein the change is associated with a software object within the software environment for which attributes are collected, and wherein receiving the attribute analysis signal associated with the change comprises providing a comparison of the affected attribute set with the attributes collected for the software object and included in a corresponding attribute set of the attribute sets.

A computer-implemented method for causing at least one processor to execute instructions recorded on a computer-readable storage medium, the method comprising:

• collecting an attribute set for each test entity of a plurality of test entities, the attribute sets being included in outputs of a first instance of a software test testing functionality of a software application and executed in a software environment;
• receiving an attribute analysis signal associated with a change in the software environment;
• and
• providing an attribute-based view associated with an affected attribute set associated with the change, the attribute-based view providing the affected attribute set as being included in outputs of a second instance of the software test testing the functionality of the software application and executed in the software environment, and thereby identifying an affected test entity that is affected by the change,
• wherein the change is associated with a software object within the software environment for which attributes are collected, and wherein receiving the attribute analysis signal associated with the change comprises providing a comparison of the affected attribute set with the attributes collected for the software object and included in a corresponding attribute set of the attribute sets,
• the method further including receiving the comparison and identifying the affected test entity based thereon.

A computer program product, the computer program product being tangibly embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and comprising instructions that, when executed, are configured to cause at least one processor to:

• collect an attribute set for each test entity of a plurality of test entities, the attribute sets being included in outputs of a first instance of a software test testing functionality of a software application and executed in a software environment;
• receive an attribute analysis signal associated with a change in the software environment, the change causing an incompatibility with an affected test entity of the plurality of test entities;
• and
• provide an attribute-based view associated with an affected attribute set associated with the change, the attribute-based view providing the affected attribute set as being included in outputs of a second instance of the software test testing the functionality of the software application and executed in the software environment, and thereby identifying the affected test entity as requiring an update to maintain compatibility with the software environment after the change,
• wherein the change is associated with a software object within the software environment for which attributes are collected, and wherein the attribute-based view is based on a comparison of the affected attribute set with the attributes collected for the software object and included in a corresponding attribute set of the attribute sets.