Re: Test first as specification

On 3 Aug 2005 06:30:44 -0700, "Daniel Parker"
<danielaparker@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>a programming
>language is a counter example to "specification by tests" because it
>does not appear to be either realistic or desirable to specify a
>non-trivial programming language entirely through tests.

Isn't it Noether's theorem that says that every specification implies
the existence a test?

<giggle>

Anyway, how do you test that a compiler conforms to the spec? You
convert the spec into tests and apply those tests (whether manually or
automatically, but hopefully automatically). This means that there is
a mapping of tests to specs, and specs back to tests. So specs *are*
tests, and tests *are* specs.

If we wrote the specs in a formal enough language, an automatic engine
could interpret them and test a compiler.


-----
Robert C. Martin (Uncle Bob) | email: unclebob@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Object Mentor Inc. | blog: www.butunclebob.com
The Agile Transition Experts | web: www.objectmentor.com
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"The aim of science is not to open the door to infinite wisdom,
but to set a limit to infinite error."
-- Bertolt Brecht, Life of Galileo
.

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