Test case prioritization for regression testing based on fault dependency

Test case prioritization techniques involve scheduling test cases for regression testing in an order that increases their effectiveness at meeting some performance goal. This is inefficient to re execute all the test cases in regression testing following the software modifications. Using information obtained from previous test case execution, prioritization techniques order the test cases for regression testing so that most beneficial are executed first thus allows an improved effectiveness of testing. One performance goal, rate of dependency detected among faults, measures how quickly dependency among faults are detected within the regression testing process. An improved rate of fault dependency can provide faster feedback on software and let developers start debugging on the severe faults that cause other faults to appear later. This paper presents the new metric for assessing rate of fault dependency detection and an algorithm to prioritize test cases. Using the new metric the effectiveness of this prioritization is shown comparing it with non-prioritized test case. Analysis proves that prioritized test cases are more effective in detecting dependency among faults.