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Model for improving the reliability of microservice software during the functional testing phase

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Category: Content №3 2026

Last Updated on 26 June 2026

Published on 30 November -0001

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Authors:

M. M. Seniv, orcid.org/0000-0003-1044-4628, Lviv Polytechnic National University, Lviv, Ukraine, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

O. M. Kuzmych*, orcid.org/0000-0002-9749-6385, Lviv Polytechnic National University, Lviv, Ukraine, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

* Corresponding author e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

повний текст / full article

Naukovyi Visnyk Natsionalnoho Hirnychoho Universytetu. 2026, (3): 146 - 154

https://doi.org/10.33271/nvngu/2026-3/146

Abstract:

Purpose. The development and justification of a new testing model aimed at improving the reliability of software systems built using microservice architecture. The proposed model systematically takes into account the specifics of distributed systems, the characteristics of microservice architecture, and fault tolerance aspects that are insufficiently covered by classical testing approaches.

Methodology. A six-layer “Pentagon” testing model is proposed. The limitations of existing models (“testing pyramid” and “testing honeycomb”) in the context of cloud-native systems were analyzed. A combined validation approach was applied: a survey of IT professionals to identify the importance of each testing layer and comparative load testing of two system versions ‒ the standard one and the one enhanced with the “Pentagon” testing model. Key reliability metrics were evaluated, including Failure Rate, Availability, MTBF, etc.

Findings. The study resulted in the formalization of the “Pentagon” testing model, which consists of six sequential layers. Evaluation criteria were developed to quantitatively assess the contribution of each layer to overall system reliability. Expert feedback confirmed the higher importance of the Fault-Tolerance, End-to-End, and Global Integration Testing layers compared to Unit Testing. Experimental results demonstrated that the system tested using the proposed model exhibited higher reliability under failure conditions: the number of failures decreased by 9.9 %, MTBF increased by 9.5 %, and Availability improved by 2 %.

Originality. For the first time, a conceptual “Pentagon” model has been developed, which, unlike the existing ones, structures the microservice software testing process into six layers. A unique feature of the model is the isolation of fault tolerance verification and resilience to chaotic infrastructure failures into separate mandatory stages, allowing for the formalization of these processes. Based on the developed model, an approach to functional software testing for reliability improvement is proposed for the first time, which involves the systemic integration of the aforementioned testing levels and Chaos Engineering into the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). Unlike classical approaches, such integration ensures a comprehensive improvement in software reliability indicators. A method for evaluating the importance of testing layers based on five weighted criteria has been developed, allowing for an objective assessment of the importance and scope of each model layer in the software testing strategy.

Practical value. The model provides a structured foundation for forming a testing strategy for microservice applications, facilitates early detection of architectural flaws, reduces the risks of failures in production, and lowers the costs of their remediation.

Keywords: software, microservice architecture, functional testing, “Pentagon” testing model, “chaos testing”

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