IPL Creates Newest Cantata++ - Intelligent Unit and Integration Testing Software

LONDON, Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- IT services company, IPL http://www.ipl.com launches Cantata++ 6.0, the latest unit and integration testing software for embedded systems developers to develop a C unit test or C++ unit test. Cantata++ 6.0 is built on the Eclipse 3.5.2 open standard architecture with the highest level of integration with the Eclipse Workbench. It's very easily deployed and greatly simplifies the configuration of an automated unit test on target platforms -- providing a complete test development environment for the creation, execution and analysis of unit and integration tests for C and C++.

IPL Cantata++ 6.0 provides advanced high productivity techniques, allowing developers to dynamically and repeatedly prove their code with unit and integration testing, in the most cost effective manner. It easily integrates with the developer desktop, compilers and embedded target platforms.

Standards Compliance

International standards for most safety related industries require that evidence of low level testing and how much of the code was tested, is provided to obtain certification for the device software. In addition, most standards require qualification/certification of the test tool or for it to be proven through use. Cantata++ 6.0 tool qualification evidence is provided free of charge.

Cantata++ has been successfully used by customers worldwide since the 1990s to meet all the international safety related standards including: IEC61508 and its various sector specific derivatives, DO-178B for avionics, and IEC62304/FDA Guidelines for medical devices.

Commercial Risk

A thorough unit test, only possible at the developer level due to application complexity, is necessary to ensure that complex devices with embedded software:

• perform reliably
• do not negatively impact brand or corporate reputations
• provide a defence against litigation on grounds of fitness for purpose

Cost of Intelligent Unit and Integration Testing

An automated unit test and low level integration test are the earliest tests performed during software development. This level of testing is also the least expensive time to fix software bugs, and can be done before bugs pollute the wider code stream, or affect shipping devices.

Interface Testing

Only Cantata++ has the flexibility and power of automated programmable wrapping, to intercept function calls, increasing the control over component interfaces. More flexible than stubs or mock objects, wrapping reduces the cost of automated unit test stubbing and makes integration testing viable.

Flexibility of Dynamic testing

Cantata++ provides a complete toolkit for black-box / white-box testing, with large data sets and robustness tests, and unique white-box code accessibility instrumentation, including best in class support for object oriented C++. The flexibility of having the right tool for the task, increases tester efficiency, and as a C++ unit test and C unit test is written in C/C++, there is no need to learn a new test scripting language.

Advanced Code Coverage

Fully integrated with a C unit test and a C++ unit test, Cantata++ code coverage provides the most detailed (highlighting by code syntax) and configurable diagnostics for all standard industry coverage metrics - including MC/DC - available in any tool.

Baseline Testing

Cantata++ 6.0 baseline testing, compatible for a C unit test and an automated unit test, will be of particular interest for those organisations which have a significant existing C code base without a set of regression unit tests, or where the developers wish to reduce or remove their reliance on expensive manual functional level tests. It also provides a highly automated upgrade route for replacing unsatisfactory unit test solutions. Baseline testing may also prove a useful mechanism to automatically and easily achieve very high levels of code coverage as a supplement to requirements based testing.

Pricing and Availability  

Cantata++ 6.0, suitable for a C unit test, a C++ unit test, and an automated unit test, is launched with immediate availability. Flexible pricing options include annual licensing or outright purchase. Pricing varies according to the number of seats purchased and can be as little as 2000 pounds per developer. Although prices may vary according to international geography.

Intelligent unit and integration testing software, Cantata++, suitable for a C unit test, a C++ unit test or an automated unit test, is available as a free trial on your host or embedded target platform, please go to http://www.ipl.com/cantata++

About IPL

IPL is an IT services company specialising in the delivery of intelligent business solutions and providing intelligent unit and integration testing software. We help our clients to exploit corporate information assets to yield tangible business benefits. Bridging the gap between business and technology, IPL provides Business Consulting, Technical Consulting, Solution Delivery and Managed Services to deliver innovative and dependable ICT solutions that address real business needs. IPL was founded in 1979 and is based in the World Heritage City of Bath, UK.

About IPL Testing Products

For more than thirty years, IPL has been developing mission critical software for some of the most demanding applications. Our practical expertise in testing high integrity software is distilled in our testing tools.  IPL's Cantata++ and AdaTEST 95 provide advanced high productivity facilities, allowing developers to dynamically and repeatedly develop a C unit test, C++ unit test or an automated unit test for C/C++ and Ada code with intelligent unit and integration testing, in the most cost effective manner.  More than 960 organisations have proven their safety or business critical code with Cantata++ and AdaTEST 95.  

SOURCE IPL