The National Science Foundation Division of Information and Intelligent Systems awarded North Dakota State University $500,000 on January 1, 2027, under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering program (CFDA 47.070) to improve software test quality and developer skills through developer-in-the-loop test optimization.
The project investigates how software tests can be systematically improved while helping students and developers strengthen testing skills through hands-on interaction with intelligent tool support. Work centers on analyzing how developers identify, understand, and address software test quality issues by examining open-source repositories, developer discussions, surveys, and interviews. These empirical findings inform the development of automated methods combining rule-based program analysis, large language models, and validation mechanisms to identify test quality issues and generate context-aware recommendations to improve tests as software evolves. The project integrates these methods into an evolution-aware developer-in-the-loop framework that continuously identifies test quality issues and suggests improvements.
The project produces openly available datasets, software tools, and educational resources benefiting researchers, educators, and practitioners. Broader impacts include reducing software maintenance costs, improving software reliability, advancing software testing education, and preparing a workforce with stronger software testing expertise.
Performance occurs in Fargo, North Dakota, with a period of performance from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2031.