Suppose we have done a risk analysis and all tests for all test stages are related to a risk. We can obviously say at the start of system test execution that none of the test objectives have been met. Because test objectives all relate to a single risk, we can therefore say: At the start of test execution, we presume that all the risks to be addressed...   Read Article.

The way you report test status can impact both real and perceived effectiveness. Here's how to master the upward and outward management of communicating test progress and results....   Read Article.

Why do some testers get a much better response from development than others? Part of the answer lies in the defect report. Following a few simple rules can smooth the way for a much more productive environment. The objective is not to write the perfect defect report, but to write an effective defect report that conveys the proper message, gets the job...   Read Article.

When the system test lead reports on the quot;statequot; of the software it should be done in a consistent manner, it should be concise, it should be accurate. Most important, it should be meaningful. This paper includes a one-page template that helps you accomplish just that....   Read Article.

Everyone knows the job market is tough these days. So, how does an entry-level tester compete against more experienced software professionals? In this week's column, Danny Faught offers a three-dimensional strategy for gaining the upper hand in your quest for a testing career....   Read Article.

Sometimes the toughest thing about testing is deciding how long it will take and what resources it will require. Read about techniques, including quot;Divide and Conquer,quot; to make this part of the job easier....   Read Article.

Today component engineering is gaining substantial interest in the software engineering community. Although a lot of research effort has been devoted to analysis methods and design strategies of component-based software, a few papers address the testing of component-based software. The paper identifies and classifies the testing issues of software components...   Read Article.

Even organizations with internal quality assurance departments may have to rely at one time or another on outsourcing to test their products. Unanticipated projects may come up or current staffing may be unable to meet demands. Whatever the reason, managing outside testers can be very challenging, especially the first time you do it. Combining external...   Read Article.

nbsp;have used and taught classes in Microsoft Visual Basicreg; since its Version 2.0, in addition to teaching and consulting on test automation. Since I work for a Quality Assurance company, Data Dimensions, Inc., most of the students I have trained have been testers. The tester's goal, usually, was to gain programming experience and to perhaps build...   Read Article.

The profile of Testing has been raised significantly in the last 2-3 years, principally due to Year 2000 issues. Increasingly organizations accept that they need systematically and thoroughly to test software, but they are demanding the same levels of efficiency that they expect from all other areas of their businesses.nbsp; To survive, the Test Manager...   Read Article.

While the process of estimating testing in the software industry may be different for each project, all share the common thread of Requirements. This article has attempted to introduce guidelines to simplify this process.nbsp;...   Read Article.

This paper provides a detailed description of how to use defect tracking to improve software quality. Numerous explanatory figures are included...   Read Article.

Whatrsquo;s wrong with finding bugs? Nothing, unless you send the signal that bug-finding is all you measure and care about. Face it. People tend to perform those actions for which they are rewarded. So, if you donrsquo;t track and value bug prevention, then itrsquo;s not likely your team will prevent many bugs. In this week's column, testing authority...   Read Article.

A simple survey I have been conducting at conferences since 1994 demonstrates few organizations use defect data to manage their product development. I have asked a series of questions, and provide the results....   Read Article.

White Paper - This paper presented by SkyeyTech, Inc. explains how your company could benefit from utilizing BUGtrack for issue-tracking and project management needs.nbsp;...   Read Article.

Effective bug tracking assures that bugs are logged, fixed, and verified by the appropriate personnel. Here's a beginner's guide to this process....   Read Article.

quot;The Bugquot; is a mesmerizing first novel about a demonic, elusive computer bug and the havoc it wreaks on the lives of the people around it. This rare combination: a novel of ideas and a suspense, it is a story about obsession and love that takes readers deep into both the personal and virtual life. In 1984, at the dawn of the personal-computer...   Read Article.

After a defect has been found, it must be reported to development so that it can be fixed. Much has been written about identifying defects and reproducing themndash;-but very little has been done to explain the reporting process and what developers really need. The purpose of this paper is to provide a guideline for what information should be included...   Read Article.

When unnecessary information is entered into bug-tracking systems, they are not as effective as they could be. In this article, Adam Kolawa outlines what type of information should be entered into a bug-tracking system during development and after code freeze, and how to use the information when designing future product versions....   Read Article.

Occasionally, we encounter projects where bug counts simply aren't as high as we expect. Perhaps the product under test is in its second or third release cycle, or maybe the development team invested an inordinate amount of time in unit testing. Whatever the reason, low bug counts can be a cause of concern because they can indicate that pieces of functionality...   Read Article.