The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer instructions for testing compatibility of software versions, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of performing an inventory on an existing set of software modules resident in the data processing system responsive to an installation of a new software module in a data processing system; referring to a knowledge base of versions of respective software modules to determine whether the new software module is compatible with the existing set of software modules; and testing the new software module in a test data processing system in combination with the existing set of software modules in response to a negative determination.