Fundamentals of Software Testing

This class provides an example-driven introduction to the fundamentals of software testing. It's designed to look at both the low-level mechanics of software testing - what testers do when they are at the keyboard as well as the high-level aspects of testing process and context. After taking this course, students will be able to more easily identify and apply various test oracles, will have a number of tools for generating and structuring test ideas, should be comfortable interacting with a variety of applications and recording those interactions, and will have a better understanding of where their testing fits within the overall project context.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Learn techniques for effective test modeling, leading to more effective test idea generation
• Common measures of testing coverage, with an understanding of when they might be effective tools
• Learn techniques for establishing testing scope and priorities
• Learn how to identify and use test oracles
• Anticipate and identify gaps in common test procedures
• Learn how to develop and use testing heuristics, and how and when to apply quick tests
• Learn about the evolving work products used by testers
• Understand the tradeoffs between different approaches to testing and different methods of interaction
• Learn techniques for communicating test status and progress
• Determine the appropriate format and level of documentation formality
• Understand (and combat) common biases and pathologies that affect testers while testing
• Learn the different phases of testing, where they fit within different lifecycles, and what you can expect during each phase
• Learn how to work effectively in the v-model of software testing
• Learn how to work effectively as part of an Agile team
• Learn how testing package implementations is different than custom software development
• Understand the different challenges between testing for web and mobile, data warehouses and business intelligence, and telephony and physical devices
• Introduction to non-functional testing, with a focus on steps you can take on your project tomorrow
• Understand how to manage the test planning process, and understand how to create common planning documents and strategies
• Take home a list of free and open source testing tools that you can use on your project today
• Find out where to learn more on each topic covered, with recommended books, articles, videos, and classes for more in-depth learning

Learn new techniques and methodologies that will enhance your current testing and quality programs.

This course is an immediate benefit to:

• Testers of all types and levels
• Other disciplines who their own testing or are involved in testing
• Quality Assurance Professionals
• Test Management
• QA Managers
• QA Directors
• Software Engineers
• Business Analysts
• Project Managers
• IT Specialists (Security, Capacity Management, Networking…)

Section I. What to test and how to test it

Testers follow the same basic process that scientists use, we follow the principles of experimentation and measurement. In this course, we map your testing method back to those principles and show how at each step in your testing, you're making complex decisions about what to test and how to test it. Utilizing a combination of skills, tactics, practices and tools - this section helps build a base that testers in any context (of any skill level) can apply to solve testing problems.

• The basic test process
  • Modeling the testing space
  • Determining test coverage
  • Determining test oracles
  • Determining test procedures
  • Configuring the test system
  • Operating the test system
  • Observing the test system
  • Evaluating testing results
  • Reporting test results
• The work products of a tester
  • Formal work products
  • Informal work products
  • Ephemeral work products
• Quick Tests and Heuristics
  • Developing and applying heuristics
  • Software Attacks
  • Quick Tests

Section II. Providing a context for testing

While testers follow the same basic testing process, they do it in dramatically different project contexts. There are numerous approaches to how teams structure testing, what approaches they employ, and what tools they use. In the second section of the course, we look at different contexts where testers work and how those contexts change the testing that takes place. This is also where we tackle problems like test planning and management.

• Approaches to Testing
  • Scripted testing
  • Scenarios, Checklists, Charters
  • Exploratory testing
• Common Phases of Testing
  • Unit Testing
  • Integration Testing
  • System Testing
  • Regression Testing
  • Acceptance Testing
  • Alpha / Beta Testing
  • The V-Model for software testing
  • Agile testing directions
• Non-Functional Testing
  • Usability and Accessibility
  • Performance, Scalability, and Capacity
  • Security Testing
  • Internationalization and Localization
  • Maintainability and Supportability
• Platform Specialization
  • Mobile and web
  • SOA
  • Package implementations (configuration and customization)
  • Data warehouse and business intelligence
  • Telephony and hardware
• Managing Testing Projects
  • Understand your context
  • Develop a test strategy
  • Estimating the work
  • Developing a schedule
  • Negotiating scope
  • Execution and reporting
  • Bug tracking

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