Object-oriented integration testing

Object-oriented software development is an evolutionary process, and hence the opportunities for integration are abundant. Conceptually, classes are e ncapsulation of data attributes and their associated functions. Software co mponents are amalgamation of logically and/or physically related classes. A complete software system is also an aggregation of software components. Al l of these various integration levels warrant contemporary integration tech niques. Traditional integration techniques towards the end of software deve lopment process do not suffice any more. Integration strategies are needed at class level, component level, sub-system level, and system levels. Class es require integration of methods. Various types of class interaction mecha nisms demand different testing strategies. Integration of classes into comp onents presses its own integration requirements. Finally, the system integr ation demands different types of integration testing strategies. This paper discusses the various integration levels prevalent in object-oriented soft ware development. The integration requirements of each level are met by sug gesting a solution for the same. An integration framework for integrating c lasses into a system is also proposed.