Test Amplification for REST APIs: Using 'Out-of-the-Box' Large Language Models

Bibliographic Details
Title: Test Amplification for REST APIs: Using 'Out-of-the-Box' Large Language Models
Authors: Tolgahan Bardakci, Serge Demeyer, Mutlu Beyazit
Source: IEEE software
Publication Status: Preprint
Publisher Information: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Subject Terms: Computer. Automation, Software Engineering (cs.SE), FOS: Computer and information sciences, Computer Science - Software Engineering
Description: REST APIs (Representational State Transfer Application Programming Interfaces) are an indispensable building block in today's cloud-native applications, so testing them is critically important. However, writing automated tests for such REST APIs is challenging because one needs strong and readable tests that exercise the boundary values of the protocol embedded in the REST API. In this paper, we report our experience with using "out of the box" large language models (ChatGPT and GitHub's Copilot) to amplify REST API test suites. We compare the resulting tests based on coverage and understandability, and we derive a series of guidelines and lessons learned concerning the prompts that result in the strongest test suite.
Document Type: Article
ISSN: 1937-4194
0740-7459
DOI: 10.1109/ms.2025.3559664
DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2503.10306
Access URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2503.10306
https://hdl.handle.net/10067/2150540151162165141
https://repository.uantwerpen.be/docstore/d:irua:29438
Rights: CC BY NC ND
CC BY NC SA
Accession Number: edsair.doi.dedup.....b4d1ca56d8b4a7ece3d94b2630cfce7d
Database: OpenAIRE
Description
ISSN:19374194
07407459
DOI:10.1109/ms.2025.3559664