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Specialist/Testing Task Force T013:
TDL and TOP Enhancements for RESTful API Services Testing

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 continued the work on TDL, concentrating 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.

TTF T013 builds on the previous activities related to TDL, focusing on new features and improvements for TDL and TOP to better support the methodologies for the specification and testing of RESTful API services outlined in EG 203 647, in particular regarding the support of data type definitions in OpenAPI and the realisation of test execution engine for supporting RESTful API testing. Additionally, a standardised textual syntax for test descriptions and test purposes has been one of the most requested additions to TDL, in order to increase the confidence in adopting it.


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.

The work on the definition of a methodology for specification and testing of RESTful APIs within STF 576 culminating in EG 203 647 identified potential new features and improvements for TDL and TOP to better support the outlined methodologies.

While there is a standardised way of deriving test cases in TTCN-3 from test descriptions in TDL defined in Part 6 of the TDL standards, there are different ways of deriving test descriptions from test purposes. A guideline with a well-defined way to derive test descriptions from structured test objectives to support a (semi-) automatic workflow would benefit users and streamline test specification processes by setting clear expectations for the resulting test descriptions.

How we do it

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

The TTF 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 TTF members include raising awareness and promoting TDL on their respective websites and at dedicated events such as ETSI’s User Conference on Advanced Automated Testing (UCAAT). 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 V1.6.1    Methods for Testing and Specification (MTS); The Test Description Language (TDL); Part 1: Abstract Syntax and Associated Semantics
ES 203 119-2 V1.5.1    Methods for Testing and Specification (MTS); The Test Description Language (TDL); Part 2: Graphical Syntax
ES 203 119-3 V1.5.1    Methods for Testing and Specification (MTS); The Test Description Language (TDL); Part 3: Exchange Format
ES 203 119-4 V1.5.1    Methods for Testing and Specification (MTS); The Test Description Language (TDL); Part 4: Structured Test Objective Specification (Extension)
ES 203 119-6 V1.3.1    Methods for Testing and Specification (MTS); The Test Description Language (TDL); Part 6: Mapping to TTCN-3
ES 203 119-7 V1.3.1    Methods for Testing and Specification (MTS); The Test Description Language (TDL); Part 7: Extended Test Configurations
ES 203 119-8 V1.1.1    Methods for Testing and Specification (MTS); The Test Description Language (TDL); Part 8: Textual Syntax
TR 103 119 V1.3.1    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 TTF is organised around three intermediate milestones, due for approval in May 2021, September 2021, and January 2022, respectively. The final drafts of the deliverables are expected to be published in May 2021.

How to contact us

Get in contact with the TTF at ttft013@groups.etsi.org. Learn more about TDL and how to contribute at https://tdl.etsi.org. Join the discussions on the TDL mailing list at TDL@LIST.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.