Automated software regression test and compilation system

Abstract

The regression testing of a recompiled main software program is provided a facility which performs a limited regression test that has the same level of testing as if the main program were tested using an expanded regression test that tests virtually all of the software modules forming the program. More particularly, if an error is found in the main program it is documented in a modification request which a programmer thereafter uses to track down and identify the software module(s) that needs to be modified to deal with the error. At that point, the programmer modifies the identified software module and also designs a current test program to test the recompiled program to determine if the error has been corrected and that the modification does not affect some other aspect of the program. The modified module and test program are then associated with an identifier identifying the associated modification request. The facility then locates all modification request identifiers respectively associated with prior modification made to the identified software module and executes the test programs associated with those modifiers as well as the current test program against the recompiled version of the main program.