IDE Unit Testing System for Version Control Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Enterprises face challenges in managing and containing technical debt in their code bases, leading to increased development time and reduced stability, as existing unit testing methods do not effectively integrate real-time testing and version control processes.

Innovation Solution

A computer device with a processor configured to execute an integrated development environment (IDE) that includes a unit testing system, which performs live unit testing and retrieves test result data before completing changes to version control, providing real-time feedback on test results and technical debt data to the user.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If unit testing is performed continuously during development, then code stability is improved, but development time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecode stabilityVSAvoiddevelopment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs unit testing automatically in the background before the user completes version control operations, proactively identifying issues before they are committed to the codebase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Test results are displayed in real-time within the IDE interface, providing immediate feedback to developers about code stability without requiring separate testing sessions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If real-time test result feedback is provided to users, then technical debt management is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetechnical debt managementVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The testing system is integrated directly into the IDE environment, merging version control operations with automated testing functionality in a single unified interface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects code changes, executes relevant unit tests, and presents results without requiring manual intervention from the developer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3785126B1Unit testing for changes to version control
Publication Date: 2022.11.23 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3785126B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3785126B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3785126B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A computer device is provided that includes a display and a processor configured to execute an integrated development environment that includes a unit testing system configured to manage a plurality of unit tests for a set of code files. The processor is further configured to determine that a user is preparing to make a change to version control for the set of code files, retrieve test result data for one or more unit tests covering one or more code files of the set of code files that have been changed in the change to version control, and output the test result data on the display before completing the change to version control for the set of code files.