Title: An S-shaped software reliability model with imperfect debugging and improved testing learning process

Authors: Pratik Roy; G.S. Mahapatra; Kashi Nath Dey

Addresses: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Calcutta, Kolkata 700009, West Bengal, India ' Department of Mathematics, National Institute of Technology, Puducherry, Karaikal 609605, India ' Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Calcutta, Kolkata 700009, West Bengal, India

Abstract: In this paper, we propose a non-homogeneous Poisson process (NHPP) based S-shaped software reliability growth model (SRGM) in presence of imperfect debugging with a new exponentially increasing fault content function and S-shaped fault detection rate. We develop the fault content function considering learning capability of testing team during software development process. Fault content increases rapidly at the beginning of testing process while it grows gradually at the end of testing process due to increasing efficiency of testing team with testing time. We use maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) method to estimate model parameters. Applicability of the proposed model has been presented by comparing with established models in terms of goodness of fit and predictive validity using two software failure data sets. Experimental results show that the proposed model gives better fit to real failure data sets and predicts future failure behaviour of software development accurately than established models.

Keywords: software testing; software reliability growth model; non-homogeneous Poisson process; fault content; imperfect debugging; learning capability; fault detection; software development; software failure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRS.2013.057423

International Journal of Reliability and Safety, 2013 Vol.7 No.4, pp.372 - 387

Received: 12 Feb 2013
Accepted: 06 Jul 2013
Published online: 30 Sep 2014 *

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