Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 10
Testing
10.1 Introduction to Testing
Testing is an integral component of the software process and an activity that must
be carried out throughout the life cycle: During the requirements workflow, the
requirements must be checked; during the analysis workflow, the specifications
must be checked; and the software production management plan must undergo
similar scrutiny. The design workflow requires meticulous checking at every stage.
During the implementation workflow, each code artifact certainly must be tested;
and the product as a whole needs testing when it has been fully integrated. After
passing the acceptance test, the product is installed and post-delivery maintenance
begins. There are two types of testing: execution-based and non-execution-based
testing. For example, it is impossible to execute a written specification document;
that only alternatives are to review it as carefully as possible or subject it to some
form of analysis. However, once there is executable code, it becomes possible to
run test cases, that is, to perform execution-based testing (Schach
2007
).
A robust model for testing starts with early test planning to assure that the
environments are available when needed, the system is itself testable in an optimal
manner, and all resources are present at the time that they are required. Some
organizations start with a Master Test Plan that identifies how many levels of test
will be required, as well as the attributes that distinguish them. After the planning,
there is usually some kind of test design (documented or undocumented) where
there is refinement of the approaches and establishment of the coverage goals.
Specific test cases (the input and corresponding expected output) are selected and
then executed. Actual results are recorded. Some organizations record all results,
while on the other hand others record only the defects that are found. After each
test level is executed, some assessment is made as to the success or failure of it.
Retesting occurs as fixes are made.
