Pragmatic Software Testing

A hands-on guide to testing techniques that deliver reliable software and systems Testing even a simple system can quickly turn into a potentially infinite task. Faced with tight costs and schedules, testers need to have a toolkit of practical techniques combined with hands-on experience and the right strategies in order to complete a successful project. World-renowned testing expert Rex Black provides you with the proven methods and concepts that test professionals must know. He presents you with the fundamental techniques for testing and clearly shows you how to select and apply successful strategies to test a system with budget and time constraints. Black begins by discussing the goals and tactics of effective and efficient testing. Next, he lays the foundation of his technique for risk-based testing, explaining how to analyze, prioritize, and document risks to the quality of the system using both informal and formal techniques. He then clearly describes how to design, develop, and, ultimately, document various kinds of tests. Because this is a hands-on activity, Black includes realistic, life-sized exercises that illustrate all of the major test techniques with detailed solutions.

Autorentext
Rex Black is a 20-plus-year software and systems engineering veteran, and President and Principal Consultant of RBCS, Inc., a leader in software, hardware, and systems testing. He is the author of Managing the Testing Process as well as numerous articles. Black is also President of both the International Software Testing Qualifications Board and the American Software Testing Qualifications Board.

Inhalt
Acknowledgments. Introduction.

Part I Goals, Strategies, and Tactics.

Chapter 1 What Does It Mean to Be Pragmatic?

What Do Effective and Efficient Mean?

What Effects Do You Want?

What Is the Right Level of Efficiency?

Avoiding Redundancy.

Reducing Cost.

What Software Testing Isn'tBut Is Often Thought to Be.

Five Phases of a Tester's Mental Life.

Other Founding Views on Testing.

Testing as a Form of Quality Risk Management.

So What Is the Test Team All About?

What Does Quality Mean to You?

Chapter 2 Triangle Test Exercise.

Exercise: The Triangle Test.

Your Solution for the Triangle Test.

Your Solution for the Triangle Test (Continued).

Author's Triangle Test Solution.

Chapter 3 Aligning Testing with the Project.

Why Do Organizations Test?

Perspectives on Testing.

Testing in Context.

Common Test Phases and Objectives.

Testing Throughout the Organization.

The V Model.

Evolutionary and Incremental Models.

The Spiral Model.

Regrettably Common Model: Code and Fix.

Testing Maintenance Releases.

System Integration.

Hardware/Software Development.

The Test Process.

Chapter 4 Understanding Test Strategies, Tactics, and Design.

Aligning Mission, Strategies, and Tactics.

Analytical Test Strategies.

Model-Based Test Strategies.

Methodical Test Strategies.

Process-Oriented Test Strategies.

Dynamic Test Strategies.

Philosophical Test Strategies.

Regression.

Regression Strategy 1: Repeat All Tests.

Regression Strategy 2: Repeat Some Tests.

Three Other Regression Strategies.

Tactics: Categories of Testing Techniques.

Strategic and Tactical Considerations.

The Test System.

Classic Principles for Test Design.

Phases of Test Development.

Synopsis of Test Strategies, Tactics, and Design.

Part II Risk-Based Testing.

Chapter 5 Understanding Risks to System Quality.

Categories of Quality Risks.

Functionality.

Performance and Reliability.

Stress, Capacity, and Volume.

States.

Transactions.

Installation and Deinstallation.

Operations.

Maintenance and Maintainability.

Regression.

Usability and User Interface.

Data Quality.

Error and Disaster Handling and Recovery.

Date and Time Handling.

Localization.

Configuration and Compatibility.

Networked, Internetworked, and Distributed.

Standards and Regulatory Compliance.

Security.

Timing and Coordination.

Documentation.

Can You Think of Other Quality Risks?

Chapter 6 Aligning Testing with Quality Risks.

Prioritize Risks to System Quality.

Testing, Customer Usage, and System Configurations.

Approaches for Quality Risks Analysis.

Informal Quality Risk Analysis.

Tips for Risk Analysis.

Challenges of Risk Analysis.

Chapter 7 Quality Risk Analysis Exercise.

My Solution.

Comments on My Solution.

A Funny Thing Happened to Me on the Way to the Quality Risks .

Bonus Exercise.

Template.

My Solution.

Comments on My Solution.

Bonus Example: Grays and Blues Quality Risk Analysis.

Part III Static Testing.

Chapter 8 Reviews and Other Static Tests.

Testing Requirements and Designs. Reviews Costs an...