STARTS (STAtic Regression Test Selection) Overview

STARTS is a tool for static class-level regression test selection tool for Maven-based Java programs.

Prerequisites

1. Java 1.8 and above
2. Maven 3.2.5 and above
3. Maven Surefire 2.14 and above
4. Operating System: Linux or OSX

Integrating STARTS Plugin from Maven Central

Change the pom.xml to add the configuration for the STARTS plugin:

<build>
  <plugins>
    <plugin>
      <groupId>edu.illinois</groupId>
      <artifactId>starts-maven-plugin</artifactId>
      <version>1.3</version>
    </plugin>
  </plugins>
</build>

Building STARTS from source

1. git clone https://github.com/TestingResearchIllinois/starts
2. cd starts
3. mvn install

Using the STARTS Maven Plugin

Available Options

1. To see all the goals that STARTS provides, run mvn starts:help
2. To see the details for any of the goals, run mvn starts:help -Ddetail=true -Dgoal=<goal>; replace <goal> with the goal of interest.

Major Functionality

1. To see the types that changed since the last time STARTS was run: mvn starts:diff

2. To see the types that may be impacted by changes since the last time STARTS was run: mvn starts:impacted

3. To see the tests that are affected by the most recent changes: mvn starts:select

4. To perform RTS using STARTS (i.e., select tests and run the selected tests): mvn starts:starts

5. To remove all artifacts that STARTS stores between versions (i.e. in the .starts directories): mvn starts:clean

NOTE: By default, commands (1) - (3) will not update the checksums of files in the latest version, while the command in (4) will update the checksums of the files. Each command has a update**Checksums option that can be used to change the default behavior. For example, to update the checksums while checking the diff, run mvn starts:diff -DupdateDiffChecksums=true.