Software Testing: Introduction

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Course Overview

The proper testing of software can save an organisation time, effort and money. In this course, software professionals and managers gain thorough knowledge of testing approaches that can be integrated into the software life cycle. Through hands-on exercises, you learn how to build testing methods into your work process to correctly design products that are functionable and maintainable.

Audience

Software testers, programmers, test leaders, quality specialists and those who would like to earn the ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level certification. A familiarity with software development concepts is assumed.

Skills Gained

Delegates will learn how to:

• Apply general software testing principles and fundamental test processes
• Implement test levels and types to various software development models
• Conduct static techniques using proper roles, responsibilities and tools
• Perform specification- and structure-based test design techniques
• Manage tests including planning, estimating, monitoring and controlling
• Prepare for the ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Exam

Course Outline

Fundamentals of Software Testing

• Grasping the software systems context
• Identifying causes of software defects
• Bug
• Defect
• Error
• Failure
• Fault
• Mistake
• Quality
• Risk

Ensuring Software Success Through Testing

The key objectives of testing

• Finding defects during development
• Providing confidence and information

Adhering to seven testing principles

• Presence of defects
• Exhaustive testing
• Early testing
• Defect clustering
• Pesticide paradox
• Context dependent
• Absence-of-errors fallacy

Applying common sense processes

• Planning and controlling
• Analysing and designing
• Implementing and executing
• Evaluating exit criteria and reporting
• Closing activities

Coping with the psychology of testing

• Contrasting developer vs. tester mindset
• Discerning levels of independence

Testing and the Software Life Cycle

Distinguishing software development models

• Adapting to V-model and iterative models
• Performing tests within a life cycle model

Conducting the main test levels

• Component
• Integration
• System
• Acceptance

Comparing four software test types

• Recognising functional and structural tests
• Performing non-functional testing
• Analysing software structure/architecture
• Conducting confirmation and regression tests

Performing maintenance testing

• Identifying reasons for maintenance testing
• Modification
• Migration
• Retirement

Finding Defects with Static Techniques

Comparing static analysis to dynamic testing

• Detection
• Correction
• Improvement

Differentiating various review types

• Informal
• Technical
• Walkthrough
• Inspection

Leveraging Test Design Techniques

Differentiating various "specifications"

• Test design
• Test case
• Test procedure

Applying specification-based techniques

• Equivalence partitioning
• State transition
• Boundary value analysis
• Use case
• Decision table

Utilising structure-based techniques

• Statement coverage
• Decision coverage

Deploying experience-based knowledge

• Intuition
• Experience
• Knowledge

Managing the Testing Process

Organising and assigning responsibilities

• Independence
• Test leader
• Tester

Planning and estimating the activities

• Metrics-based vs. expert-based approach
• Justifying exit criteria adequacy
• Standardising test documentation

Monitoring and controlling test progress

• Applying common metrics
• Interpreting test summary reports

Implementing configuration management

• Ensuring proper version control
• Generating incident reports

Addressing project and product risks

• Contractual
• Organisational
• Technical
• Assess
• Determine
• Implement
• Adopting Test Support Tools

Classifying different types of test tools

• Test management
• Static testing
• Test specification
• Executing and logging
• Performance and monitoring
• Other

Introducing a tool into an organisation

• Recognising potential benefits and risks
• Considering special circumstances

Follow On Courses

• 340 Project Management for Software Development
• 312 Software Quality Assurance
• 342 Software Configuration Management
• 315 Developing User Requirements
• 218 User Requirements for Software Development
• 322 Systems Analysis and Design Comprehensive Introduction
• 286 Project Risk Management

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