1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to data processing systems and, in particular, to a data processing system, method, and program for automatically testing software applications. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a data processing system, method, and program for automatically generating a job within an automated test environment for testing software applications utilizing an event-driven work flow manager.
2. Description of the Related Art
Personal computer systems are well known in the art. They have attained widespread use for providing computer power to many segments of today""s modern society. Personal computers (PCs) may be defined as a desktop, floor standing, or portable microcomputer that includes a system unit having a central processing unit (CPU) and associated volatile and non-volatile memory, including random access memory (RAM) and basic input/output system read only memory (BIOS ROM), a system monitor, a keyboard, one or more flexible diskette drives, a CD-ROM drive, a fixed disk storage drive (also known as a xe2x80x9chard drivexe2x80x9d), a pointing device such as a mouse, and an optional network interface adapter. One of the distinguishing characteristics of these systems is the use of a motherboard or system planar to electrically connect these components together. Examples of such personal computer systems are IBM""s PC 300 series, and Aptiva series.
An important part of software development is testing whether a particular software application functions as intended and without encountering errors. Typically, a large number of tests will be repeatedly executed on the software application. In order to perform these tests efficiently, a variety of software testing devices have been disclosed. These devices typically describe a testing method to be executed utilizing a single computer system which is also executing the software application being tested. The computer system will include the necessary test cases, any applications needed to execute the test cases, and all other necessary hardware or software components.
A tester who desires to execute the tests must oversee and control the testing environment. The tester is required to define the test cases, identify the computer system to execute the test cases, indicate to the computer system when a particular portion of the test should start executing, when a portion of the test has completed and when to begin executing the next portion of the test. Although the computer system will automatically execute the tests, the tester must manually control the execution of the tests.
A data processing system, method, and program including an automated software test environment are disclosed for generating a job to be executed within the automated software test environment to test a software application. A work flow manager is established for automatically managing the automated software test environment. The automated software test environment includes multiple computer systems coupled to a server computer system utilizing a network. The work flow manager is executed utilizing the server computer system. Execution of the automated test environment is controlled utilizing the work flow manager in response to a receipt of external events generated by the plurality of computer systems. A job description is created including an identification of one of the external events. A job described by the job description is executed utilizing the work flow manger in response to a receipt of the external event.
All objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.