Error masking in computer programs
Janusz W. Laski, Wojciech Szermer, Piotr Luczycki · Software Testing Verification and Reliability · 1995
Abstract Programming faults are defined in the framework of a program proof outline. A component C in program P is faulty if P cannot be proved correct with the current implementation of C but it can be proved using the design specification for C, which defines the role of C in the overall design of P. A programming error is a state that violates the implementation specification of C. The error is masked if the design specification is satisfied by the incorrect state. Given a passing test t, the probability of error masking is 1–s(t), where s(t) is the sensitivity of t. Dynamic mutation testing (DMT), a Monte Carlo method, is used to estimate s(t). DMT is extended to estimate the probability of the existence of a hidden fault in C for a passing test suite. That probabillity can be viewed as a metric that measures the quality of the passing test suite.