Automated Business Rule Validation in Multi-Tier Data Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to confirm the enforcement of business rules in the data access tier of multi-tier applications, as existing methods lack efficiency in ensuring these rules are properly implemented and enforced during data access operations.
Innovation Solution
A testing tool identifies and provides attributes from the data access tier to users, allowing them to specify and execute test cases to verify that business rules are enforced, with results provided in a log file for confirmation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual testing methods are used to verify business rules in data access tier, then testing can be performed, but the process is time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The testing tool automatically identifies attributes in the data access tier and generates test cases without requiring manual intervention. The system self-services by extracting metadata, determining testable attributes, and creating executable test cases autonomously, thereby improving testing efficiency and reducing time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The testing tool performs preliminary actions by automatically identifying and analyzing attributes in the data access tier before actual testing begins. It pre-generates test cases based on attribute metadata, so that when testing is needed, the work is already prepared, reducing the time required for the actual testing process.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive test cases are created to cover all business rules, then testing accuracy improves, but the complexity of the testing process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The testing tool segments the testing process into distinct automated phases: attribute identification, test case generation, and test execution. By dividing the comprehensive testing task into manageable automated segments, it maintains high testing accuracy while reducing the perceived complexity for users.
Solution Approach 2:
The testing tool acts as an intermediary between the developer's business logic and the testing process. It automatically translates business rules into test cases, serving as a mediator that handles the complexity of creating comprehensive tests while presenting a simple interface to users.
3Reliability
If detailed attribute analysis is performed to ensure complete business rule coverage, then testing thoroughness improves, but the time required for attribute identification increases
Solution Approach 1:
The testing tool performs preliminary attribute identification and analysis automatically before test case generation. By conducting this detailed analysis in advance as a preparatory step, it ensures complete business rule coverage and reliable testing while reducing the time users need to spend on attribute identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service attribute identification by automatically scanning the data access tier, extracting metadata, and identifying testable attributes without user intervention. This automated self-analysis ensures thorough business rule coverage while minimizing the time users need to invest in the process.
Data Source
AI summary
Confirming enforcement of business rules specified in a data access tier of a multi-tier enterprise application. In an embodiment, a testing tool programmatically identifies the attributes in the data access tier that are accessible from a set of higher/interface tiers and provides the identified attributes to a user using a suitable interface. The user then specifies a set of test cases based on the provided attributes, with each test case including data elements associated with respective attributes and an expected result if the data elements are sought to be stored in the respective attributes of a data storage. The testing tool determines a validation result of operation of business rules against the combination of data elements and respective attributes. The testing tool then indicates that the business rules are enforced as desired, if the validation result is the same as the expected result.