{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,24]],"date-time":"2026-02-24T02:55:07Z","timestamp":1771901707395,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,6]],"date-time":"2023-03-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1678060800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Information"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Various software engineering paradigms and real-time projects have proved that software testing is the most critical and highly important phase in the SDLC. In general, software testing takes approximately 40\u201360% of the total effort and time involved in project development. Generating test cases is the most important process in software testing. There are many techniques involved in the automatic generation of these test cases which aim to find a smaller group of cases that could allow for an adequacy level to be achieved which will hence reduce the effort and cost involved in software testing. In the structural testing of a product, the auto-generation of test cases that are path focused in an efficient manner is a challenging process. These are often considered optimization problems and hence search-based methods such as genetic algorithm (GA) and swarm optimizations have been proposed to handle this issue. The significance of the study is to address the optimization problem of automatic test case generation in search-based software engineering. The proposed methodology aims to close the gap of genetic algorithms acquiring local minimum due to poor diversity. Here, dynamic adjustment of cross-over and mutation rate is achieved by calculating the individual measure of similarity and fitness and searching for the more global optimum. The proposed method is applied and experimented on a benchmark of five industrial projects. The results of the experiments have confirmed the efficiency of generating test cases that have optimum path coverage.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/info14030166","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,6]],"date-time":"2023-03-06T06:29:06Z","timestamp":1678084146000},"page":"166","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["An Automated Path-Focused Test Case Generation with Dynamic Parameterization Using Adaptive Genetic Algorithm (AGA) for Structural Program Testing"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7915-0180","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manikandan","family":"Rajagopal","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Lean Operations and Systems, School of Business and Management, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru 560029, Karnataka, India"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6224-6167","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ramkumar","family":"Sivasakthivel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Computer Science, School of Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru 560029, Karnataka, India"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6435-2916","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Karuppusamy","family":"Loganathan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur 303007, Rajasthan, India"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6542-0490","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Loannis E.","family":"Sarris","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of West Attica, 250 Thivon & P. Ralli Str, 12244 Athens, Greece"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Prasanna, M., Sivanandam, S.N., Venkatesan, R., and Sundarrajan, R. (2015). A Survey on Automatic Test Case Generation. Acad. Open Internet J., 15, Available online: http:\/\/www.acadjournal.com\/."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.1002\/stvr.294","article-title":"Search-based software test data generation: A survey","volume":"14","author":"Mcminn","year":"2004","journal-title":"Softw. Test. Verif. Reliab."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-12538-6_16","article-title":"Adaptive Evolutionary Testing: An Adaptive Approach to Search-Based Test Case Generation for Object-Oriented Software","volume":"284","author":"Ribeiro","year":"2010","journal-title":"Stud. Comput. Intell."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1145\/2492248.2492277","article-title":"Search based software test data generation for structural testing: A perspective","volume":"38","author":"Varshney","year":"2013","journal-title":"ACM SIGSOFT Softw. Eng. Notes"},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"82","article-title":"Automated Software Test Data Generation Based on Simulated Annealing Genetic Algorithms","volume":"41","author":"Fu","year":"2005","journal-title":"Comput. Eng. Appl."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1016\/j.swevo.2011.02.001","article-title":"Parameter tuning for configuring and analyzing evolutionary algorithms","volume":"1","author":"Eiben","year":"2011","journal-title":"Swarm Evol. Comput."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"945","DOI":"10.1109\/TEVC.2009.2014613","article-title":"JADE: Adaptive Differential Evolution with Optional External Archive","volume":"13","author":"Zhang","year":"2009","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Evol. Comput."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2181","DOI":"10.1007\/s10773-013-1544-0","article-title":"Study of a Quantum Framework for Search Based Software Engineering","volume":"52","author":"Wu","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. J. Theor. Phys."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"203","DOI":"10.1002\/stvr.4370020405","article-title":"Dynamic method for software test data generation","volume":"2","author":"Korel","year":"1992","journal-title":"Softw. Test. Verif. Reliab."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"405","DOI":"10.1007\/s10664-005-3861-2","article-title":"Supporting Controlled Experimentation with Testing Techniques: An Infrastructure and its Potential Impact","volume":"10","author":"Do","year":"2005","journal-title":"Empir. Softw. Eng."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fraser, G. (2017, January 20\u201321). Gamification of software testing. Proceedings of the 12th International Workshop on Automation of Software Testing (AST\u201917), Buenos Aires, Argentina.","DOI":"10.1109\/AST.2017.20"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"de Jesus, G.M., Ferrari, F.C., Porto, D.D.P., and Fabbri, S.C.P.F. (2018, January 17\u201321). Gamification in Software Testing: A Characterization Study. Proceedings of the III Brazilian Symposium on Systematic and Automated Software Testing (SAST\u201918), Sao Carlos, Brazil.","DOI":"10.1145\/3266003.3266007"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"158872","DOI":"10.1109\/ACCESS.2021.3128071","article-title":"Toward a Multi-Criteria Framework for Selecting Software Testing Tools","volume":"9","author":"Abdulwareth","year":"2021","journal-title":"IEEE Access"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"345","DOI":"10.1109\/TSE.2015.2487274","article-title":"A Probabilistic Analysis of the Efficiency of Automated Software Testing","volume":"42","author":"Bohme","year":"2016","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Softw. Eng."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1979","DOI":"10.1109\/TSE.2020.3045914","article-title":"Revisiting Test Impact Analysis in Continuous Testing from the Perspective of Code Dependencies","volume":"48","author":"Peng","year":"2022","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Softw. Eng."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.1109\/OJITS.2022.3140493","article-title":"A Credibility Assessment Approach for Scenario-Based Virtual Testing of Automated Driving Functions","volume":"3","author":"Stadler","year":"2022","journal-title":"IEEE Open J. Intell. Transp. Syst."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"247","DOI":"10.1109\/TR.2014.2354172","article-title":"An Automated Test Generation Technique for Software Quality Assurance","volume":"64","author":"Xu","year":"2015","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Reliab."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"771","DOI":"10.1109\/TR.2018.2832072","article-title":"Mapping the Effectiveness of Automated Test Suite Generation Techniques","volume":"67","author":"Oliveira","year":"2018","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Reliab."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"919","DOI":"10.1109\/TSE.2018.2811489","article-title":"Test Generation and Test Prioritization for Simulink Models with Dynamic Behavior","volume":"45","author":"Matinnejad","year":"2019","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Softw. Eng."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"361","DOI":"10.1109\/TSE.2015.2487958","article-title":"Black-Box String Test Case Generation through a Multi-Objective Optimization","volume":"42","author":"Shahbazi","year":"2016","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Softw. Eng."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1189","DOI":"10.1109\/TR.2019.2892517","article-title":"Machine Learning Applied to Software Testing: A Systematic Mapping Study","volume":"68","author":"Durelli","year":"2019","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Reliab."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"360","DOI":"10.1007\/s12204-013-1406-1","article-title":"A method of minimum reusability estimation for automated software testing","volume":"18","author":"Kan","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Shanghai Jiaotong Univ. (Sci.)"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1049","DOI":"10.1007\/s10270-015-0503-z","article-title":"FLAME: A formal framework for the automated analysis of software product lines validated by automated specification testing","volume":"16","author":"Benavides","year":"2017","journal-title":"Softw. Syst. Model."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"76","DOI":"10.1134\/S0361768820080034","article-title":"Automated Software Testing Technologies for Realistic Computer Graphics","volume":"47","author":"Denisov","year":"2021","journal-title":"Program. Comput. Softw."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"241","DOI":"10.1007\/s11219-007-9018-3","article-title":"Rapid goal-oriented automated software testing using MEA-graph planning","volume":"15","author":"Gupta","year":"2007","journal-title":"Softw. Qual. J."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1007\/s11390-021-1693-1","article-title":"TOAST: Automated Testing of Object Transformers in Dynamic Software Updates","volume":"37","author":"Zhao","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Comput. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"695","DOI":"10.1007\/s10836-019-05825-9","article-title":"RSBST: An Accelerated Automated Software-Based Self-Test Synthesis for Processor Testing","volume":"35","author":"Suryasarman","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Electron. Test."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"619","DOI":"10.1007\/s13369-016-2284-2","article-title":"An Automated Analysis of the Branch Coverage and Energy Consumption Using Concolic Testing","volume":"42","author":"Godboley","year":"2017","journal-title":"Arab. J. Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"203","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1018915027830","article-title":"Automated class testing using threaded multi-way trees to represent the behaviour of state machines","volume":"8","author":"Tsai","year":"1999","journal-title":"Ann. Softw. Eng."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8341","DOI":"10.1007\/s00500-017-2780-7","article-title":"Optimized test suites for automated testing using different optimization techniques","volume":"22","author":"Khari","year":"2018","journal-title":"Soft Comput."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"149","DOI":"10.1007\/s11219-018-9418-6","article-title":"Automated functional testing of mobile applications: A systematic mapping study","volume":"27","author":"Tramontana","year":"2019","journal-title":"Softw. Qual. J."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"199","DOI":"10.1007\/s11390-017-1699-x","article-title":"Automated Testing of Web Applications Using Combinatorial Strategies","volume":"32","author":"Qi","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Comput. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3942","DOI":"10.1109\/TII.2019.2941584","article-title":"IEC 61131-3 Software Testing: A Portable Solution for Native Applications","volume":"16","author":"Hofer","year":"2019","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Ind. Inform."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"557","DOI":"10.1109\/TR.2018.2799957","article-title":"Tapir: Automation Support of Exploratory Testing Using Model Reconstruction of the System Under Test","volume":"67","author":"Bures","year":"2018","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Reliab."},{"key":"ref_35","first-page":"55","article-title":"Teaching software testing from two viewpoints","volume":"26","author":"Harrison","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Comput. Sci. Coll."},{"key":"ref_36","first-page":"173","article-title":"A case study in software testing: Verification of a face identification algorithm for planar graphs","volume":"35","author":"Whitmire","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Comput. Sci. Coll."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"959","DOI":"10.1007\/s12046-016-0536-1","article-title":"Automated test data generation for branch testing using incremental genetic algorithm","volume":"41","author":"Manikumar","year":"2016","journal-title":"S\u0101dhan\u0101"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"596","DOI":"10.3103\/S1068371212110120","article-title":"Development of automated systems of scientific research for control and testing of electrical machinery","volume":"83","author":"Rubtsov","year":"2012","journal-title":"Russ. Electr. Eng."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20690","DOI":"10.1109\/ACCESS.2022.3153347","article-title":"Automated Software Test Data Generation with Generative Adversarial Networks","volume":"10","author":"Guo","year":"2022","journal-title":"IEEE Access"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"163","DOI":"10.1007\/s11334-009-0112-5","article-title":"From formal requirements to automated web testing and prototyping","volume":"6","author":"Sousa","year":"2010","journal-title":"Innov. Syst. Softw. Eng."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"34075","DOI":"10.1109\/ACCESS.2018.2846761","article-title":"Image Rectification Software Test Automation Using a Robotic ARM","volume":"6","author":"Banerjee","year":"2018","journal-title":"IEEE Access"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"80478","DOI":"10.1109\/ACCESS.2021.3084887","article-title":"ContextDrive: Towards a Functional Scenario-Based Testing Framework for Context-Aware Applications","volume":"9","author":"Mirza","year":"2021","journal-title":"IEEE Access"}],"container-title":["Information"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2078-2489\/14\/3\/166\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T18:48:56Z","timestamp":1760122136000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2078-2489\/14\/3\/166"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,6]]},"references-count":42,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,3]]}},"alternative-id":["info14030166"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/info14030166","relation":{},"ISSN":["2078-2489"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2078-2489","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,6]]}}}