A Test Specification Language for Information Systems Based on Data Entities, Use Cases and State Machines

Testing is one of the most important activities to ensure the quality of a software system. This paper proposes and discusses the TSL (Test Specification Language) that adopts a model-based testing approach for both human-readable and computer-executable specifications of test cases. TSL is strongly inspired on the grammar, nomenclature and writing style as defined by the RSLingo RSL, which is a rigorous requirements specification language. Both RSL and TSL are controlled natural languages that share common concepts such as data entities, use cases and state machines. However, by applying black-box functional testing design techniques, TSL includes and supports four complementary testing strategies, namely: domain analysis testing; use case tests; state machine testing; and acceptance criteria. This paper focuses on the first three testing strategies of TSL. Finally, a simple but effective case study illustrates the overall approach and supports the discussion.