Patent ID: 7587708

Claim:
A method for testing converted source code features appearing in computer software of a computer system, said method comprising performing N iterations, said N being at least 1, wherein performing each iteration of the N iterations comprises performing the steps of: identifying M converted source code features appearing in each computer program of P computer programs of said computer software, said M converted source code features having been converted by compiler conversion software in order that said P computer programs may be compiled into executable program codes by a new version of a compiler, said P being at least 10, said M being at least 1; and selecting P 1 computer programs of said P computer programs for subsequent testing of said P 1 computer programs, said P 1 being less than said P, said P 1 computer programs being selected such that said testing of the P 1 computer programs may be used to determine to a statistical degree of confidence that said compiler conversion software has correctly converted said M source code features in said P computer programs, wherein performing each iteration of the N iterations further comprises performing the steps of: compiling said P 1 computer programs by the new version of the compiler into P 1 corresponding executable program codes, after the P 1 computer programs have been converted by the compiler conversion software; and performing said testing of said P 1 computer programs by executing said P 1 executable program codes and determining to said statistical degree of confidence from said executing whether said compiler conversion software has correctly converted said M source code features in said P computer programs.