Specialist Task Force 476: 
TDL Phase 2: Adaptation to Users

Who we are:

Team Leader: Philip Makedonski, makedonski@informatik.uni-goettingen.de

Team Members: Gusztav Adamis
Martti K&al;ärik
Andreas Ulrich
Marc-Florian Wendland

What we do:

TC MTS laid the foundation of the Test Description Language (TDL) with STF 454 in 2013 in terms of the basic concepts and their semantics. Phase 2 of the TDL development builds upon the work of STF 454, by adding the necessary language functionality to integrate TDL test descriptions into test automation frameworks. It will also elaborate a standardised concrete graphical syntax for end-users and a TDL exchange format to be used by tools to foster tool interoperability.

For more details, see our Terms of Reference

Why we do it:

TDL bridges the gap between declarative test purpose specifications (what shall be tested?) and imperative test case specifications (how shall it be tested?) by offering a standardised language for the specification of test descriptions. TDL also contributes to the ongoing activities in MTS to establish model-based testing (MBT) technologies within ETSI.

It is expected that test descriptions in a standardised language will ease the development of executable tests as well as make test specifications easier to review by non-testing experts, thus improving the general productivity and quality of test development in industry as well as in the standardisation process by relieving test engineers from working on details of test implementations. An extension to TDL is planned to address advanced test objective specification based on TPLan to bring test purpose specifications and test descriptions even closer and streamline the test specification process even further, especially in the standardisation processes at ETSI.

How we do it:

The activities of the STF are coordinated on a regular basis with a dedicated steering group assembled by TC MTS to ensure that the work of the STF is aligned with expectations and requirements from the different stakeholders. The steering group is also supporting the work of the STF by providing technical guidance on key technical issues.

The STF will host a tutorial session on TDL at the UCAAT 2014 to showcase ongoing work on TDL and different application scenarios in a hands-on manner. During an associated special session on MTS activities, a brief introduction to TDL is also planned. Ongoing dissemination activities from STF members from research institutions include raising awareness and promoting TDL on their respective websites and within teaching and research activities. A dedicated project has been created on the online issue reporting portal for ETSI (“ETSI’s Bug Tracker”) where change requests for TDL can be submitted and managed in an open and transparent manner.

Deliverables:

The deliverables for the STF comprise an update to ES 203 119, as well as two new parts, encompassing:

ES 203 119-1 V1.2.1 - Part 1: An extension of the current TDL meta-model covering the design of new features to support automation of the generation of concrete (e.g. TTCN-3) tests;

ES 203 119-2 V1.1.1 - Part 2: The description of a graphical TDL default syntax that provides full coverage of the extended meta-model, i.e. it describes a concrete syntax for all elements of the meta-model;

ES 203 119-3 V1.1.1 - Part 3: The description of a TDL exchange format that represents a TDL specification in an unambiguous format used to exchange specifications between tools.

Time plan:

The work of the STF is organised around three intermediate milestones, due for approval on May 2014, September 2014, and January 2015, respectively, in conjunction with MTS plenary sessions. The final drafts the three deliverables will be submitted for approval to the 64th MTS plenary.

How to contact us:

Philip Makedonski: makedonski@informatik.uni-goettingen.de


This information is based upon STF working assumptions.
The views expressed do not necessarily represent the position of ETSI in this context.
Last updated: 2014-07-16 14:29:15