scope:

This International Standard is applicable to the development and use of conformance testing methodologies for POSIX standards. The generic test methods identified in this International Standard shall be used in conjunction with test methods identified for a specific standard.

This International Standard is intended for use by working groups developing test methods for POSIX standards, developers of POSIX test methods, and users of POSIX test methods.

The purpose of this International Standard is to define general rules for developing test assertions and related test methods for measuring conformance of an implementation to POSEX standards, Test methods may include POSIX Conformance Test Suites (PCTS), POSIX Conformance Test Procedures (PCTP), and audits of POSIX Conformance Documents (PCD).

Testing conformance of an implementation to a standard includes testing the claimed capabilities and behavior of the implementation with respect to the conformance requirements of the standard. Test methods are intended to provide a reasonable, practical assurance that the implementation conforms to the standard. Use of these test methods will not guarantee conformance of an implementation to the standard; that normally would require exhaustive testing (see 4.2.1), which is impractical for both technical and economic reasons.