ASE 2025
Sun 16 - Thu 20 November 2025 Seoul, South Korea

This program is tentative and subject to change.

Wed 19 Nov 2025 14:20 - 14:30 at Vista - Test Generation, Selection & Prioritization 2

Automated unit test generation has been extensively explored in research, with recent advances highlighting the considerable promise of Large Language Models (LLMs). Models such as GPT-4, trained on extensive corpora of text and code, have demonstrated strong capabilities across various code-related tasks—including unit test generation. Nevertheless, current LLM-based methods tend to operate with a narrow focus, often limited to the immediate code context (e.g., variable references) while overlooking richer, task-specific knowledge sources. For instance, they frequently fail to leverage existing test cases of related methods, which could offer highly relevant guidance. Furthermore, many of these tools emphasize achieving high code coverage, frequently compromising the practical usability, functional correctness, and long-term maintainability of the generated tests.

To address these issues, we introduce a novel mechanism called ​​Reference-Based Retrieval Augmentation​​, which enhances traditional Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) by incorporating task-aware context retrieval. In the context of unit test generation, we define “test reference relationships” as the potential for test reusability or referential value between a focal method and other methods within the codebase. These relationships allow the system to retrieve pertinent methods and their accompanying unit tests, providing rich contextual clues for generating high-quality tests. Our approach further decomposes test construction into three structured phases—​​Given​​, ​​When​​, and ​​Then​​—aligning with the typical test design pattern. For each phase, RefTest retrieves and utilizes examples from existing tests of reference methods, offering targeted support for test setup, method invocation, and assertion writing.

We implemented this approach in a tool named ​​RefTest​​, which systematically conducts preprocessing, test reference retrieval, and unit test generation. An incremental generation strategy is adopted, wherein each newly created test informs and improves subsequent ones. RefTest was evaluated on 12 open-source projects containing 1,515 methods. Results show that it significantly surpasses existing tools across multiple dimensions: correctness, completeness, and maintainability of the generated tests.

This program is tentative and subject to change.

Wed 19 Nov

Displayed time zone: Seoul change

14:00 - 15:30
Test Generation, Selection & Prioritization 2Research Papers / Journal-First Track at Vista
14:00
10m
Talk
LLMs for Automated Unit Test Generation and Assessment in Java: The AgoneTest Framework
Research Papers
Andrea Lops Polytechnic University of Bari, Italy, Fedelucio Narducci Polytechnic University of Bari, Azzurra Ragone University of Bari, Michelantonio Trizio Wideverse, Claudio Bartolini Wideverse s.r.l.
14:10
10m
Talk
µOpTime: Statically Reducing the Execution Time of Microbenchmark Suites Using Stability Metrics
Journal-First Track
Nils Japke TU Berlin & ECDF, Martin Grambow TU Berlin & ECDF, Christoph Laaber Simula Research Laboratory, David Bermbach TU Berlin
14:20
10m
Talk
Reference-Based Retrieval-Augmented Unit Test Generation
Journal-First Track
Zhe Zhang Beihang University, Liu Xingyu Beihang University, Yuanzhang Lin Beihang University, Xiang Gao Beihang University, Hailong Sun Beihang University, Yuan Yuan Beihang University
14:30
10m
Talk
Using Active Learning to Train Predictive Mutation Testing with Minimal Data
Research Papers
Miklos Borsi Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
14:40
10m
Talk
Clarifying Semantics of In-Context Examples for Unit Test Generation
Research Papers
Chen Yang Tianjin University, Lin Yang Tianjin University, Ziqi Wang Tianjin University, Dong Wang Tianjin University, Jianyi Zhou Huawei Cloud Computing Technologies Co., Ltd., Junjie Chen Tianjin University
14:50
10m
Talk
An empirical study of test case prioritization on the Linux Kernel
Journal-First Track
Haichi Wang College of Intelligence and Computing, Tianjin University, Ruiguo Yu College of Intelligence and Computing, Tianjin University, Dong Wang Tianjin University, Yiheng Du College of Intelligence and Computing, Tianjin University, Yingquan Zhao Tianjin University, Junjie Chen Tianjin University, Zan Wang Tianjin University
15:00
10m
Talk
Automated Generation of Issue-Reproducing Tests by Combining LLMs and Search-Based Testing
Research Papers
Konstantinos Kitsios University of Zurich, Marco Castelluccio Mozilla, Alberto Bacchelli University of Zurich
Pre-print
15:10
10m
Talk
Using Fourier Analysis and Mutant Clustering to Accelerate DNN Mutation Testing
Research Papers
Ali Ghanbari Auburn University, Sasan Tavakkol Google Research
15:20
10m
Talk
WEST: Specification-Based Test Generation for WebAssembly
Research Papers