GSoC: Kernel-Mode Test Suite - Ros-dev

27 Mar 2011

Hi,

I guess I don't have to introduce myself all that much anymore ;)
Please see [1] if you disagree.

I plan to submit a GSoC project proposal concerning the kernel-mode
test suite, and would like to discuss a few key points to better shape
the project idea and its timeline.
Because of the broadness of the subject, I'm posting here to reach
as many ears (er... eyes) as possible, hoping for feedback from people
working on several different areas of ROS.

My "state of mind" is currently the following regarding the project:

Basic key points (I hope everyone agrees; please tell me if I'm wrong :p)
- follow Winetest "feeling" - syntax for writing tests should be almost
  identical; like current kmtests demonstrate
- tests should be startable individually from a command line launcher and
  follow Winetest behavior in that regard, so that an integration with
  Testman is made easy
- code should be CMake and MSVC/WDK compatible from the beginning

Ideas I deem useful (would appreciate any comments)
- include buffer overrun checks, much like DPH (DPH can't be used for
  this though, can it?), using e.g. a guard/noaccess page behind each
  buffer. See [2] for a userland example; I'm working on a kernel-mode
  one
- inspired by Winetest's broken(), one could make tests Windows-version
  specific. Something like [but better thought-out in syntax]
    ok(win2k3sp1(ret == 0) | win7x64sp1(ret == 1), ...)
  This would help compare different versions of Windows and much
  facilitate future kernel-target switching

Questions
- as there are ... many... kernel-mode functions, it is unfeasible to
  write tests for all during the project. My idea would be to create
  some very thorough sample tests, then focus on the most critical
  functions. "If there's time", thinly covering a more broad area might
  also be very useful (as extending existing tests is probably deemed
  easier than creating new ones by people later on).
  I have no doubt there's enough to do, ;) but would be interested to
  hear if you agree with the general strategy and what you think those
  "critical" areas might be.

So what do you guys think?
Excited for your input. Thanks. :)

Regards,
Tom

[1] Hi! I'm Thomas, 23, from Germany, currently studying Computer
    Engineering in Berlin. I've been hanging out on IRC as ThFabba
    for some time now and submitted some hopefully-not-totally-useless
    patches ;) I'm interested in.... oh well, pretty much all parts
    of ROS. *g* Nice to meet you!

[2] http://www.reactos.org/paste/index.php/8697/