2026-05-01 09:00
Generating C++ Unit Tests Faster: Razorcat integrates emmtrix Link Stubbing Technology into TESSY
To further streamline and accelerate embedded software testing, Razorcat Development GmbH has integrated the link stubbing technology from its long-standing technology partner emmtrix Technologies GmbH into TESSY, the widely used test automation tool for C/C++ development. Razorcat’s TESSY supports unit and integration testing, and is widely used for safety-critical applications e.g. in automotive, aerospace, and industrial automation to ensure compliance with safety standards and to improve overall software quality. The newly integrated emmtrix Link Stubber tool helps embedded software developers to reduce their manual effort required to generate isolated C++ unit tests.
When testing, missing dependencies often lead to linker errors, a problem that becomes substantially more complex in C++ due to language features such as constructors, inheritance and virtual functions, templates and standard library types, as well as complex object initialization semantics. These factors make C++ unit test creation more time-consuming compared to C, limiting automation and slowing down test development.
Automated Link Stubbing with Clang Technology
To overcome these limitations, emmtrix has developed the emmtrix Link Stubber on behalf of Razorcat. This Clang-based tool automatically generates stub implementations for unresolved C and C++ symbols. By enabling incomplete translation units to be linked without requiring full implementations of all dependencies, the technology eliminates the need for extensive hand-written stubs. As a result, developers can focus on testing the unit under consideration instead of being blocked by missing dependencies elsewhere in the codebase.
The link stubbing capability is now fully integrated into TESSY, providing automated stub generation for C++ functions, classes, constructors, destructors, and global variables. It supports advanced language constructs including inheritance, abstract classes, and standard library types, enabling seamless unit test creation even for complex or legacy C++ modules. This integration reduces the manual effort previously required to prepare isolated test setups and enables a more streamlined and automated workflow.
Integrated Workflow for Efficient Test Creation
With this enhancement, Razorcat extends its proven unit testing approach for modern C++, reducing setup times for isolated C++ unit tests and improving the scalability of test workflows. Development teams benefit from faster test creation, increased automation, and improved accessibility for testing legacy and complex codebases. The solution is particularly relevant for industries with stringent quality and safety requirements, where reliable and efficient testing workflows are essential.
"The collaboration between Razorcat and emmtrix shows how compiler-based tooling can effectively reduce the setup effort in C++ unit testing workflows, even in safety-critical software development”, says Rainer Heim, Managing Director of emmtrix. “Our emmtrix Link Stubber lowers the barrier for testing complex C++ codebases by simplifying the isolation of tightly coupled dependencies."
"By integrating the emmtrix link stubbing technology in TESSY, we reduce the manual work required to set up isolated C++ unit tests and make the workflow more scalable and automation-friendly,” says Michael Wittner, CEO of Razorcat Development GmbH. “This allows development teams to increase test coverage and improve their quality assurance processes with considerably less effort."
About emmtrix
emmtrix Technologies develops advanced software tools for embedded systems, enabling static performance analysis, code optimization and safe parallelization and vectorization. Founded in 2016 and based in Karlsruhe, Germany, emmtrix combines deep expertise in compiler technology and static code analysis with extensive experience in automotive and avionics applications. The company also enables deployment of AI/ML models (ONNX, PyTorch) to embedded edge devices with automated, hardware-aware optimization.
More information about emmtrix Technologies is available at www.emmtrix.com .
emmtrix Contact:
emmtrix Technologies GmbH
Erbprinzenstraße 4-12
phone: +49 (0) 721 9861 4560
e-mail: contact@emmtrix.com
