1 research outputs found
Improving Fault Localization by Integrating Value and Predicate Based Causal Inference Techniques
Statistical fault localization (SFL) techniques use execution profiles and
success/failure information from software executions, in conjunction with
statistical inference, to automatically score program elements based on how
likely they are to be faulty. SFL techniques typically employ one type of
profile data: either coverage data, predicate outcomes, or variable values.
Most SFL techniques actually measure correlation, not causation, between
profile values and success/failure, and so they are subject to confounding bias
that distorts the scores they produce. This paper presents a new SFL technique,
named \emph{UniVal}, that uses causal inference techniques and machine learning
to integrate information about both predicate outcomes and variable values to
more accurately estimate the true failure-causing effect of program statements.
\emph{UniVal} was empirically compared to several coverage-based,
predicate-based, and value-based SFL techniques on 800 program versions with
real faults