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Specialist Task Force 577:
TDL and TOP Enhancements and Maintenance

Who we are:

 

Team leader:
Team Members:

What we do

STFs 454, 476, 492, and 522 created the foundation for the Test Description Language (TDL)  in terms of well-defined modelling concepts, a standardized graphical syntax and exchange format, as well as support for structured test objective specifications. Further efforts to boost the TDL adoption and application resulted in a TDL open-source project (TOP) including implementations of essential tools that can help users and tool vendors to get started with TDL. The standardised mapping of TDL to TTCN-3 offers a consistent way to bridge high level test descriptions and executable test cases and can serve as a reference for mappings to other targets for executable tests.

STF577 concentrates on resolving the submitted change requests to the TDL standard series and the TOP tools, as well as ensuring that all parts remain consistent and that the language features implemented in the TOP are consistent with the specifications.

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.

Test descriptions in a standardised language ease the development of executable tests and make test specifications easier to review by non-testing experts. This can improve 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 addresses structured test objective specification to bring test purpose specifications into the modelling world and streamline the test specification process even further, especially in the standardisation processes at ETSI.

The TOP project aims to accelerate the adoption of TDL by lowering the barrier to entry for both users and tool vendors in getting started with using TDL. It comprises graphical and textual editors, as well as validation facilities and other supporting tools.

How we do it

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

The STF interacts with different stakeholders by showcasing the ongoing work on TDL and its implementation, as well as different application scenarios in a summary or hands-on manner, depending on the specific audience. Further dissemination activities from the STF members include raising awareness and promoting TDL on their respective websites. 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 updates to the individual parts* of ES 203 119, as well as TR 103 119, encompassing:
ES 203 119-1 V1.5.1    Methods for Testing and Specification (MTS); The Test Description Language (TDL); Part 1: Abstract Syntax and Associated Semantics
ES 203 119-2 V1.4.1    Methods for Testing and Specification (MTS); The Test Description Language (TDL); Part 2: Graphical Syntax
ES 203 119-3 V1.4.1    Methods for Testing and Specification (MTS); The Test Description Language (TDL); Part 3: Exchange Format
ES 203 119-4 V1.4.1    Methods for Testing and Specification (MTS); The Test Description Language (TDL); Part 4: Structured Test Objective Specification (Extension)
ES 203 119-6 V1.2.1    Methods for Testing and Specification (MTS); The Test Description Language (TDL); Part 6: Mapping to TTCN-3
ES 203 119-7 V1.2.1    Methods for Testing and Specification (MTS); The Test Description Language (TDL); Part 7: Extended Test Configurations
TR 103 119 V1.2.1    Methods for Testing and Specification (MTS); The Test Description Language (TDL); Reference Implementation and User Guidelines
* Work items of the TDL standard series which are not affected by CRs will not be updated.

Time plan

The work of the STF is organised around two intermediate milestones, due for approval on January 2020, and May 2020, respectively. The final drafts of the deliverables are expected to be published in July 2020.

How to contact us

Get in contact withthe STF at STF577@groups.etsi.org. Learn more about TDL and how to contribute at https://tdl.etsi.org.

This information is based upon STF/TTF working assumptions.

The views expressed do not necessarily represent the position of ETSI in this context.