Software Testing Cost Reduction Through Test Suite Minimization

Abstract

Software testing cost reduction is important because large software projects often contain extensive test suites that require significant execution time, computing resources, and manual analysis effort. As applications evolve, test suites may include redundant, obsolete, overlapping, or low-value test cases that increase regression testing cost without improving defect detection. Traditional testing practices usually execute all available test cases, but this approach becomes inefficient when release cycles are short and system changes are frequent. This article focuses on test suite minimization as a structured method for reducing testing cost while preserving essential coverage and fault detection capability. The study discusses how test cases can be analyzed using code coverage, requirement coverage, execution history, defect detection ability, redundancy level, and change relevance. The article concludes that effective test suite minimization can reduce testing time, lower maintenance effort, improve regression testing efficiency, and support faster software release decisions.