The Importance of Software Testing

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The Importance of Software Testing
Testing Solutions Group Limited 6th Floor,
Walbrook House 23-29 Walbrook, London EC4N
8BT email enquiry_at_testing-solutions.com http//ww
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A Necessary Evil

• All project managers know that they must do some
  testing
• The basic questions are
• How much?
• What sort?
• By whom?
• When and by when?
• All difficult questions.

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Why do we test?

• Provide confidence in the system
• Identify areas of weakness
• Establish the degree of quality
• Establish the extent that the requirements have
  been met, i.e. what the users asked for is what
  they got not what someone else though they wanted
• To provide an understanding of the overall system
• To prove it is both usable and operable
• To provide sufficient information to allow an
  objective decision on applicability to deploy

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Another view cynical?

• To use up spare budget
• To provide a good excuse why the project is late
• To provide jobs for people who cant code
• To make the developers look good
• To provide the project manager with some
  contingency in the plan and can be cut if if push
  come to shove!

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First up How much?

• How good does the product need to be?
• How do we measure it?
• How do we make a decision?
• Are there any legal or compliance issues?
• What industry are you in?
• What will it cost?
• Time and resource human and machine
• Are we capable?
• We know what we need to do but can we do it?

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How do we decide?

• What matters to our users?
• What does the system do?
• Risk
• Requirements
• Money
• Test Techniques - Coverage
• Static
• Dynamic

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Secondly What sort?

• Unit
• Interface
• Functionality
• Performance
• Usability
• Security
• Availability
• Operability

plus about another 20 abilities ?
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Do we need tools to help?

• Automated test tools are often seen as a silver
  bullet
• Some tests cannot be successfully executed or
  analysed without them
• 80 of test tools end up as shelfware through
• Abandonment
• Neglect
• Banishment

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Thirdly By whom?

• Users those who will ultimately use the system
• Customers those who define the system are they
  the same as the users?
• Testers
• Analysts
• Developers

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Are we capable of testing?

• Is an experienced tester better than an
  experienced user at finding faults?
• How can testers help themselves and users?
• Working with the users to understand their
  systems
• Providing testing skills transfer
• Attending testing industry conferences
• Attaining industry recognised software testing
  qualifications

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More information

• Non-Functional test technique definitions and
  other standards www.testingstandards.co.uk
• STQE Magazine www.stqemagazine.com
• BCS ISEB Software Testing Certification
• Foundation
• Practitioner
• http//www1.bcs.org.uk/
• Special Interest Group in Software Testing
  SIGiST http//www1.bcs.org.uk/
• EuroSTAR www.testingconferences.com
• ICSTest www.icstest.com

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Lastly When?

• Once the code is complete?
• As soon as the architecture is defined?
• Once the system delivery is complete?
• During development?
• Once the business requirements have been defined?
• As soon as the project is given the go-ahead?

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• Test then Code

Then test some more
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By when?

• Project deadline driven by
• Legislation
• Arbitrary date
• Financial year
• Calendar date
• Seasonal
• Marketing window
• Safety Criticality
• Money

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Summary

• Testing is an integral part of the system
  development function, not an afterthought
• Testing starts with the requirements not the code
• Testing is a static and dynamic activity
• Prevention is better than cure
• The sooner you find the fault the cheaper it is
  to fix
• Create re-usable testware
• Process first then tools
• Not everyone can test well, use professional
  testers
• Planned testing in a controlled environment
  provides objective metrics
• To gain a Return on Investment you must first
  Invest

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The Importance of Software Testing
Testing Solutions Group Limited 6th Floor,
Walbrook House 23-29 Walbrook, London EC4N
8BT email enquiry_at_testing-solutions.com http//ww
w.testing-solutions.com