LittleDarwin vs Mutode
LittleDarwin
aliparsai.github.ioMutode
thesoftwaredesignlab.github.ioSide by side
| Figure | LittleDarwin | Mutode |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 0 |
| Spec score · Mutation Testing Tools | 8.3 (#4) | 6.7 (#23) |
| Install | The usage guide says to install LittleDarwin with `pip install littledarwin` and run it as a Python module. | The page documents global npm installation, local development dependency installation, npx usage, and package.json scripts. |
| Installation | The documentation says to install LittleDarwin with pip and run it as a Python module. | The page documents installing Mutode globally with npm or locally as a development dependency. |
| License | The project is free software under the GNU General Public License, version 3 or later. | The page identifies the license as MIT and names Diego Rodríguez Baquero in its copyright notice. |
| Mutation operators | The command-line options include null-check and method-level mutation operators, as well as an option to use all operators. | Documented operators include changing literals and conditionals, altering math operators, and removing code elements such as array elements, function arguments, lines, and switch cases. |
| Purpose | LittleDarwin generates mutants of Java source code and runs a build command to check whether the test suite detects them. | Mutode performs mutation testing for Node.js and JavaScript. |
| Results | The documentation says generated mutants and analysis reports are placed in a LittleDarwinResults directory. | Mutode reports killed, survived, and discarded mutants and calculates mutant coverage. |
Plans
In their own words
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.
Mutode
Mutode has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.