Agent framework for software quality assurance

Abstract

Software quality assurance (SQA) is an essential process to ensure high quality products. However, the high labor cost of SQA is sometime hindering the wide practice of SQA. The need and rise of distributed software development makes it even more difficult to monitor and perform the SQA processes. With the maturing of the agent technology, SQA can take advantage of this new development by automating some mundane tasks of SQA. Agents can be installed at geographically distributed sites for close monitoring of software development. This thesis presents a multi-agent system (AUTOQ) that can aid software quality assurance. SQA activities that can be performed by agents have been identified. A scenario of how multi-site software development can use AUTOQ is presented. It is expected that the use of AUTOQ will improve the monitoring and controlling of SQA activities, eliminate most manual effort, and can promote the wide employment of SQA.