An initial evaluation of model-based testing

We are in the process of evaluating the feasibility of using model-based testing (MBT) to test systems. In this paper we discuss the feasibility of testing the software bus of NASA's Goddard Mission Service Evolution Center (GMSEC) using MBT. GMSEC has a flexible architecture making testing a difficult task. The idea is to use one model to test GMSEC for behavioral consistency among multiple programming language APIs and multiple middleware wrappers. Since a new testing approach must be evaluated in the light of the effort it takes to become productive, we measure and discuss costs and benefits. The study demonstrates that it is feasible to use MBT for a system like GMSEC based on the fact that the tester was able to use MBT to detect new issues in GMSEC, which is an already tested system.