COTS: Connected OpenAPI Test Synthesis for RESTful Applications

Christian Bartolo Burlò; Adrian Francalanza; Alceste Scalas; Emilio Tuosto

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-62697-5_5

COTS: Connected OpenAPI Test Synthesis for RESTful Applications

Christian Bartolo Burlò
, Adrian Francalanza
, Alceste Scalas
, Emilio Tuosto

Gran Sasso Science Institute
University of Malta

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

Abstract

We present a novel model-driven approach for testing RESTful applications. We introduce a (i) domain-specific language for OpenAPI specifications and (ii) a tool to support our methodology. Our DSL, called COpenAPI, is inspired by session types and enables the modelling of communication protocols between a REST client and server. Our tool, dubbed COTS, generates (randomised) model-based test executions and reports software defects. We evaluate the effectiveness of our approach by applying it to test several open source applications. Our findings indicate that our methodology can identify nuanced defects in REST APIs and achieve comparable or superior code coverage when compared to much larger handcrafted test suites.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on Coordination Models and Languages
Volume	14676
Publication date	2024
Pages	75-92
ISBN (Print)	978-3-031-62696-8
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-031-62697-5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-62697-5_5
Publication status	Published - 2024
Event	26th International Conference on Coordination Models and Languages - Groningen, Netherlands Duration: 17 Jun 2024 → 21 Jun 2024

Conference

Conference	26th International Conference on Coordination Models and Languages
Country/Territory	Netherlands
City	Groningen
Period	17/06/2024 → 21/06/2024

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-031-62697-5_5

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Cite this

@inproceedings{c757002a49e245f9bdc20b131703df87,

title = "COTS: Connected OpenAPI Test Synthesis for RESTful Applications",

abstract = "We present a novel model-driven approach for testing RESTful applications. We introduce a (i) domain-specific language for OpenAPI specifications and (ii) a tool to support our methodology. Our DSL, called COpenAPI, is inspired by session types and enables the modelling of communication protocols between a REST client and server. Our tool, dubbed COTS, generates (randomised) model-based test executions and reports software defects. We evaluate the effectiveness of our approach by applying it to test several open source applications. Our findings indicate that our methodology can identify nuanced defects in REST APIs and achieve comparable or superior code coverage when compared to much larger handcrafted test suites.",

author = "Burl{\`o}, \{Christian Bartolo\} and Adrian Francalanza and Alceste Scalas and Emilio Tuosto",

year = "2024",

doi = "10.1007/978-3-031-62697-5\_5",

language = "English",

isbn = "978-3-031-62696-8",

volume = "14676",

pages = "75--92",

booktitle = "Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on Coordination Models and Languages",

note = "26th International Conference on Coordination Models and Languages, COORDINATION ; Conference date: 17-06-2024 Through 21-06-2024",

}

Burlò, CB, Francalanza, A, Scalas, A & Tuosto, E 2024, COTS: Connected OpenAPI Test Synthesis for RESTful Applications. in Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on Coordination Models and Languages. vol. 14676, pp. 75-92, 26th International Conference on Coordination Models and Languages, Groningen, Netherlands, 17/06/2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-62697-5_5

TY - GEN

T1 - COTS: Connected OpenAPI Test Synthesis for RESTful Applications

AU - Burlò, Christian Bartolo

AU - Francalanza, Adrian

AU - Scalas, Alceste

AU - Tuosto, Emilio

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - We present a novel model-driven approach for testing RESTful applications. We introduce a (i) domain-specific language for OpenAPI specifications and (ii) a tool to support our methodology. Our DSL, called COpenAPI, is inspired by session types and enables the modelling of communication protocols between a REST client and server. Our tool, dubbed COTS, generates (randomised) model-based test executions and reports software defects. We evaluate the effectiveness of our approach by applying it to test several open source applications. Our findings indicate that our methodology can identify nuanced defects in REST APIs and achieve comparable or superior code coverage when compared to much larger handcrafted test suites.

AB - We present a novel model-driven approach for testing RESTful applications. We introduce a (i) domain-specific language for OpenAPI specifications and (ii) a tool to support our methodology. Our DSL, called COpenAPI, is inspired by session types and enables the modelling of communication protocols between a REST client and server. Our tool, dubbed COTS, generates (randomised) model-based test executions and reports software defects. We evaluate the effectiveness of our approach by applying it to test several open source applications. Our findings indicate that our methodology can identify nuanced defects in REST APIs and achieve comparable or superior code coverage when compared to much larger handcrafted test suites.

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-031-62697-5_5

DO - 10.1007/978-3-031-62697-5_5

M3 - Article in proceedings

SN - 978-3-031-62696-8

VL - 14676

SP - 75

EP - 92

BT - Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on Coordination Models and Languages

T2 - 26th International Conference on Coordination Models and Languages

Y2 - 17 June 2024 through 21 June 2024