cargo-mutants vs LittleDarwin
cargo-mutants
mutants.rsLittleDarwin
aliparsai.github.ioSide by side
| Figure | cargo-mutants | LittleDarwin |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 1 |
| Spec score · Mutation Testing Tools | 7.5 (#12) | 8.3 (#4) |
| Installation | The guide documents installation with `cargo install --locked cargo-mutants`, `cargo binstall`, or binaries from GitHub releases. | The documentation says to install LittleDarwin with pip and run it as a Python module. |
| Purpose | cargo-mutants is a mutation testing tool for Rust that finds places where bugs could be inserted without causing tests to fail. | LittleDarwin generates mutants of Java source code and runs a build command to check whether the test suite detects them. |
| Runtime | A run’s duration depends roughly on the number of viable mutations multiplied by the time to run the test suite for each mutation. | The project describes itself as a Java mutation testing framework written in Python. |
| Support | The project README invites users to share experience reports in GitHub Discussions and sponsor development. | The maker invites users to email the author with feedback or suggestions. |
Plans
In their own words
cargo-mutants
cargo-mutants has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
LittleDarwin
LittleDarwin is a Java mutation testing framework written in Python, available for Linux. It generates altered versions, or mutants, of Java source code, then runs a configured build command for each mutant to check whether the test suite detects the change. Its analysis has a mutation phase and a build phase, where each build is checked for success or failure. Users can select null-check or method-level mutation operators, or use all operators. The --higher-order option sets the mutation order, and the guide demonstrates second-order mutants. Project settings include a test project path and test command, build command, working directory, initial build command, cleanup commands, and build timeout. A Maven example runs `mvn clean test` for each mutant. Whitelist filters restrict analysis to selected packages or files, while blacklist filters exclude them. Generated mutants and full-analysis reports go into a LittleDarwinResults directory, and surviving mutants are reported. Installation uses pip, followed by running LittleDarwin as a Python module. The project is free under the GNU General Public License version 3 or later and is supported through donations.