Affiliations: [a] Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Rela(CS)2 Laboratory, University of Oum El Bouaghi, Algeria | [b] Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Software Engineering Research Laboratory, University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada | [c] Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, LESIA Laboratory, University of Mohamed Khider, Biskra, Algeria
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Ayyoub Kalache, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Rela(CS) 2 Laboratory, University of Oum El Bouaghi, University of Constantine 1, Bp 08, 1er Nov 1954, Ain Beida, Oum el Bouaghi, 04048, Algeria. E-mail: kalache.ayyoub@umc.edu.dz.
Abstract: Multi-agent systems are proposed as a solution to mitigate nowadays software requirements: open and distributed architectures with dynamic and adaptive behaviour. Like any other software, multi-agent systems development process is error-prone; thus testing is a key activity to ensure the quality of the developed product. This paper sheds light on agent testing as it is the primary artefact for any multi-agent system’s testing process. A framework called JADE Testing Framework (JTF) for JADE platform’s agent testing is proposed. JTF allows testing agents at two levels: unit (inner-components) and agent (agent interactions) levels. JTF is the result of the integration of two testing solutions: JAT a well-known framework for JADE’s agent’s interaction testing and UJade, a new solution that was developed for agent’s unit testing. UJade provides also a toolbox that allows for enhancing JAT capabilities. The evidence of JTF usability and effectiveness in JADE agent testing was supported by an empirical study conducted on seven multi-agent systems. The results of the study show that: when an agent’s code can be tested either at agent or unit levels UJade is less test’s effort consuming than JAT; JTF provides better testing capabilities and the developed tests are more effective than those developed using UJade or JAT alone.
