Abstract: An object oriented test provides a hierarchy of classes under test, each of the classes under test having a predefined inheritance structure. The test provides a test class for each corresponding class under test. Each class under test has a test member function, a set state member function, a verify state member function, and a test vector which includes an initial complete state, an expected complete state, a set of function inputs for a member function being tested, and a set of expected results. The test sets an initial complete state of the test class by implicitly calling the set state member functions through the inheritance structure of the test classes. Next a member function of a desired class under test is executed. The final complete state of the class under test as well as the outputs and returned values of all member functions which were executed are compared with the set of expected results.

Abstract: A hierarchical design transaction method which provides a shared project workspace and an individual user workspace. A desired portion of a hierarchical design is checked out from the shared project workspace and is edited in the individual user workspace. A new version of the desired portion of the hierarchical design is checked into the shared project workspace. Concurrently, another individual user workspace is provided, and another desired portion of the hierarchical design is checked out, edited and checked in. These steps are repeated for each of a plurality of desired portions of the hierarchical design, to continuously guarantee consistency between the shared project workspace and each individual user workspace.