Constraint-Guided Test Execution Scheduling: An Experience Report at ABB Robotics

Abstract: Automated test execution scheduling is crucial in modern software development environments, where components are frequently updated with changes that impact their integration with hardware systems. Building test schedules, which focus on the right tests and make optimal use of the available resources, both time and hardware, under consideration of vast requirements on the selection of test cases and their assignment to certain test execution machines, is a complex optimization task. Manual solutions are time-consuming and often error-prone. Furthermore, when software and hardware components and test scripts are frequently added, removed or updated, static test execution scheduling is no longer feasible and the motivation for automation taking care of dynamic changes grows. Since 2012, our work has focused on transferring technology based on constraint programming for automating the testing of industrial robotic systems at ABB Robotics. After having successfully transferred constraint satisfaction models dedicated to test case generation, we present the results of a project called DynTest whose goal is to automate the scheduling of test execution from a large test repository, on distinct industrial robots. This paper reports on our experience and lessons learned for successfully transferring constraint-based optimization models for test execution scheduling at ABB Robotics. Our experience underlines the benefits of a close collaboration between industry and academia for both parties.