Alex, a QA engineer on the Kotlin/Native team, shares insights into testing compilers. With a background in backend automation, Alex highlights the challenges and rewards of testing a niche product like Kotlin/Native. The article covers compiler basics, Kotlin/Native technology, and the intricate process of compiler testing. Alex dives into specific tasks encountered, including improving error reporting and handling NaN representation. Tools like IDE, Vim, and Gradle are used, with a focus on pairwise testing for optimal bug detection. Alongside automated tests, exploratory testing plays a crucial role in ensuring product quality. Compiler testing is portrayed as a complex and diverse field, demanding technical expertise and strategic testing approaches.
https://medium.com/@zakharenko/how-does-it-feel-to-test-a-compiler-fa1ff5d86065