On Testing Data-Intensive Software Systems
This work is incremental, as it synthesizes existing knowledge and identifies gaps for researchers and practitioners in software testing.
The chapter addresses the need for specialized testing approaches in data-intensive software systems, which process large and diverse data volumes, by providing terminology, background, and discussing current research and future directions.
Today's software systems like cyber-physical production systems or big data systems have to process large volumes and diverse types of data which heavily influences the quality of these so-called data-intensive systems. However, traditional software testing approaches rather focus on functional behavior than on data aspects. Therefore, the role of data in testing has to be rethought and specific testing approaches for data-intensive software systems are required. Thus, the aim of this chapter is to contribute to this area by (1) providing basic terminology and background on data-intensive software systems and their testing, and (2) presenting the state of the research and the hot topics in the area. Finally, the directions of research and the new frontiers on testing data-intensive software systems are discussed.