Automated Test-Case Reduction

Adrian Sampson from Cornell University discusses automated test-case reduction techniques in a blog post. He explains how automated reducers can quickly and blindly try different approaches to reduce test cases, potentially in parallel, compared to manual methods. The reduction process involves picking code to delete, checking the output to decide whether to backtrack, and determining when to stop reducing. Sampson demonstrates using the Shrinkray reducer to debug an interpreter bug, emphasizing the importance of writing an effective interestingness test script. Tricks like shell negation, including a "not bogus" check, and using grep to search for specific error messages help in crafting robust test scripts. The post highlights the need for occasional manual intervention to guide the reduction process effectively. By combining automated reduction with manual adjustments, users can efficiently identify and address bugs in their code.