This new special interest paper introduces you to Mobile JUnit, a unit testing framework for the Java ME, CLDC platform from Sony Ericsson. This document outlines what unit testing is, summarizes the JUnit testing framework, presents how to create and integrate unit tests, guides you through using it with Ant, Eclipse and NetBeans and explains on-device testing for Sony Ericsson phones. No prior experience with unit testing is necessary and after reading this guide, you will be able to test your Java ME applications using the Sony Ericsson Mobile JUnit 1.0 framework. Download here>> The special interest paper addresses the following areas: What unit testing is and why unit testing is challenging on the Java ME, CLDC platform. Unit testing with JUnit summarizes the JUnit unit testing framework, which serves as an extension point for the Mobile JUnit framework developed by Sony Ericsson. What Mobile JUnit is and how it differs from and enhances the standard JUnit framework. Writing unit tests explains how to create unit tests with Mobile JUnit. Integrating the tests discusses how to integrate Mobile JUnit into your build procedures using common tools such as Ant, Eclipse and NetBeans. On-Device testing explains how to run unit tests on Sony Ericsson feature phones.

Mobile JUnit background information

Unit testing for applications written in Java SE (Standard Edition) is primarily done using the popular, open-source JUnit framework, a regression testing framework allowing programmers to test their own software. With the release of the Sony Ericsson Mobile JUnit, a comprehensive set of guidelines and principles for Java ME CLDC unit testing is available for the first time.

"Testing code in Java ME, especially based on the CLDC environment, has historically presented a number of difficulties. Without an easy-to-use testing framework, developers were more likely to skip unit testing entirely," says Mikael Nerde, Head of Developer Program & Content Planning at Sony Ericsson. He continues, "This meant that the only time developers could truly identify an issue was when the application had been completed and tested by a third party such as during Java Verified certification. Consequently, if any bugs were found, it could take significant time to isolate the problem code and fix it, adding development and extra testing costs. With Sony Ericsson Mobile JUnit, this can all be avoided."

During development, Java ME applications must be tested while running within a desktop emulator or on the mobile phone the application is aimed for. On-device testing is particularly important since emulators cannot accurately reproduce all aspects of the final running environment. The Sony Ericsson Mobile JUnit enables fully automated regression testing of CLDC applications both in the emulator and on the real phone, resulting in higher quality applications while simplifying the process for finding and debugging code. In addition, after the application has been released, Mobile JUnit aids future development work by eliminating the introduction of new bugs to the code.

According to Mikael Nerde, "From a best-practice perspective, the benefit of Mobile JUnit is two fold. Not only does it allow the Sony Ericsson developer community to pin-point potential bugs and thereby shorten their development cycles, it also allows developers to more effectively inform us of any potential issues in our Java Platform implementation. This helps us ensure that, now and in the future, our Java Platform is of the highest standard, from the ground up."

More information:

• Download Sony Ericsson Mobile JUnit Special Interest Paper>>
• Download Sony Ericsson Mobile JUnit 1.0>>