mutation-testing

Mutation testing measures test suite resilience by introducing small, controlled changes (mutants) to production code and observing if tests fail. It reveals weak tests and coverage gaps by classifying whether mutants are killed or survive.

To perform mutation analysis on branches after refactoring, generate mutants for key modules and run the test suite against each one. This identifies weak tests and guides test improvements by evaluating results with clear pass or fail criteria.

Use mutation testing when standard test coverage is insufficient to assess test strength. It evaluates whether existing tests would catch real bugs by generating controlled mutants, running tests, and classifying outcomes to reveal hidden coverage gaps.

Start by defining a minimal project, generate mutants for key modules, and run the test suite to see if mutants are killed. This quick start approach evaluates test effectiveness by observing if tests fail when code is mutated.

Mutation testing assesses test effectiveness by generating mutants and running tests, but limitations include the computational cost of evaluating each mutant and the need for clear criteria to classify whether mutants are killed or survive.

Yes, mutation testing can identify weak tests during software refactoring by applying mutation analysis on branches. It introduces controlled mutations to production code and checks if tests fail, revealing gaps and guiding test improvements.