A tool for incorporating unit testing into a Java programming curriculum

In the development of object-oriented programming courses, an often overlooking but important area is testing. Generally, testing is formally introduced in software engineering courses and may not form part of the practical aspects of a programming course. As a result, this concept can play a de-emphasized role during the presentation of the course material. To counteract this problem, the HF2 (Highly Extendable and Flexible) unit testing framework was created. Its primary focus is the incorporation of unit testing into an object-oriented programming curriculum. HF2 provides students with the opportunity to develop and practice testing skills in a structured manner. This paper discusses the structure of the framework and the experiences gained when used in a university environment.