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FORTEST is an originally EPSRC-funded network that is investigating the relationships between formal (and semi-formal) methods and software testing. In particular, it is interested in ways in which these areas complement each other. This is an exciting area of research that has lead to a number of significant results. However, while results in this area have had a fundamental impact on some application domains, they have largely failed to feed through to mainstream testing practice. It is intended that FORTEST will help rectify this.
FORTEST considers a wide range of testing activities, including static testing techniques (such as model-checking and theorem proving) as well as dynamic testing. FORTEST will consider a wide range of problems, of interest to the testing and formal methods communities. Examples include: automating (black-box) test generation; producing tests likely (or guaranteed) to detect certain types of fault; using static analysis to support software testing; methods for reasoning about test effectiveness; producing tests that are likely to find faults in systems formally refined from specifications; and using tests to explore assumptions underlying proofs. |
FORTEST had initial funding to hold four workshops a year for
three years. It also funded the management of a mailing list and a web
site. The founders of FORTEST included a range of academics from the testing and formal methods communities and industrialists representing a number of application domains such as consumer electronics; automotive systems; tools; and safety-critical systems.
FORTEST is intended to be inclusive rather than exclusive; the expectation is that it will grow both in membership and scope.
If
you are interested in joining FORTEST activities or being included in its mailing list please email its organiser Rob Hierons at rob.hierons@brunel.ac.uk
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