Tips

Tips

• Agile ALM tools: How they differ from traditional lifecycle management tools

  Software consultant Nari Kannan describes the differences between agile application lifecycle management (ALM) tools and traditional lifecycle management software. Agile ALM tools are more tightly integrated, easier to use, supportive to distributed...  Continue Reading

• Specialized testing for your enterprise application

  In this tip, Judith Myerson describes examples of five types of testing for your enterprise applications: cloud testing, user acceptance testing, modular testing, agile testing and incremental testing. Myerson gives a brief overview of each type of ...  Continue Reading

• Eight steps for a successful software release

  Have you done everything to prepare for a successful software release? Software project manager Kay Diller describes eight things you can do to ensure your deployment will go smoothly. From creating your team to being prepared with a back-out plan, ...  Continue Reading

• Applying lean concepts to software testing

  If we're going to use a factory analogy for software development, shouldn't we at least study the techniques modern factories use? In this tip, software quality expert Matt Heusser describes concepts used first for lean manufacturing, which are now ...  Continue Reading

• What is a test case? What is a requirement?

  After exploring the definition of a test case by surveying test experts, authors and students, consultant Robin Goldsmith learns that interpretations remain ambiguous and varied. Similarly, the level of detail thought to be needed to define ...  Continue Reading

• Inadequate requirements and what to do about them

  Software requirements are often subjective and poorly written resulting in inadequate requirements documentation. In this tip, QA Director John Scarpino describes some of the reasons behind poor requirements and ways that this can be addressed.  Continue Reading

• Strategies for minimizing regression defects

  Regression defects, those unexpected defects that result from a fix of another defect, are often the most challenging to find and fix. Expert John Overbaugh describes why these defects are so challenging and offers up techniques, such as automation...  Continue Reading

• The importance of critical thinking in software test

  Even though there are numerous definitions for the term "software testing," there is common ground. Testers need to use critical thinking skills when diving into the testing of a software application. In this tip, expert Chris McMahon explains ways ...  Continue Reading

• Six tours for exploratory testing the business district of your application

  Exploratory testing is sometimes thought to be "directionless testing", but James Whitaker's new book suggests that exploratory testing, is more structured than it is credited for. Exploratory testing is filled with numerous tours or testing ...  Continue Reading

• A software expert's heuristic for regression testing

  Often, regression testing is what stands between a product in a test lab versus a product in the hands of our users – so we don't want to take longer than we need – but we don't want to haphazardly release a product before its ready.  Continue Reading

• Using Fist of Five, Planning Poker to reach Agile team consensus

  In these tips, consensus-building tools such as Fist of Five and Planning Poker are introduced. Even when these tools are used, the team must decide how they are going to handle a stale-mate condition and move forward on decisions.  Continue Reading

• Why use POST vs. GET to keep applications secure

  Although POST and GET HTTP requests essentially perform the same command on a Web server, a security expert says there are inherent dangers in using one over the other. Learn why one type of processing request provides more security for your Web ...  Continue Reading

• Nine ways to evaluate automated software testing tools

  Evaluate automated software testing tools more thoroughly with these tips for analyzing cost, support, total cost of ownership, usability and more. This tip suggests questions to ask about each attribute of a tool and a vendor's support for it.  Continue Reading

• Calculating mean time to failure in performance testing

  Calculating MTTF (mean time to failure) can be a difficult for testers in order to develop a performance test pass as there are multiple steps. This expert tip will guide you through process,  Continue Reading

• Winning responses to "Why is QA always the bottleneck?"

  Executives are notorious for criticizing QA and test pros, often labeling them as the "bottleneck" of software projects. Learn appropriate responses to upper management's unfair and difficult inquiries in this useful tip.  Continue Reading

• Defining report requirements with use cases

  This tip offers a new and interesting way to go about defining and reporting requirements for use cases. There are a number of details that need to be attended to in defining requirements such as taking a look at users and then constructing use ...  Continue Reading

• How requirements use cases facilitate the SDLC

  Learn software use case processes and techniques that result in better application requirements in this tip. Takeaways include use case diagrams and user acceptance test case examples.  Continue Reading

• Expert shows seven ways to improve your project management abilities

  Project management offices can benefit when the team has a diverse portfolio of skills. Learn how to become a better project manager by reading these seven suggestions, which range from developing talents and group leaders to better assessing ...  Continue Reading

• Defining requirements during software project feasibility analysis

  There are at least two key points in a software project when requirements should be defined. One point people often miss is during feasibility analysis, and failure to define requirements at this stage can doom a project.  Continue Reading

• Web application security testing checklist

  Testing your Web application security is something that needs be taken seriously. The best way to be successful is to prepare in advance and know what to look for. Here's an essential elements checklist to help you get the most out of your Web ...  Continue Reading

• How to avoid requirements creep

  Despite all the attention placed on defining requirements, creep continues to plague software projects. Learn how a different approach to requirements can curtail that creep.  Continue Reading

• Making requirements walkthroughs more effective (and fun)

  Do you have to twist arms to get people to attend your requirements review sessions? It doesn't have to be this way. Learn how to use a simulation model to get everyone engaged in the walkthrough.  Continue Reading

• Using proactive test design methods to catch requirements issues early

  Proactive test design allows QA testers to identify requirements and design problems at an earlier stage than with traditional test cases.  Continue Reading

• Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship, Chapter 1 -- What Is Clean Code?

  Agile software development calls on developers to write clean code, according to Robert "Uncle Bob" Martin. This free chapter introduces the concepts and methods programmers can adopt to write truly clean code.  Continue Reading

• Software testers: Identity crisis or delusions of grandeur?

  Without a clear understanding of what software testers do, it's only natural that people try to interpret what they do from their job title. The problem is the number of different titles people have creates confusion, says Scott Barber.  Continue Reading

• Testing for performance, part 1: Assess the problem space

  In the first article of this series on testing for performance, Mike Kelly outlines ways for you to understand your content and the system and figure out where to start testing.  Continue Reading

• Testers' involvement in requirements gathering important

  In this increasingly complex software development era, it is important to include testing as early in the project as possible. And that means starting with requirements gathering.  Continue Reading

• The state of performance testing

  Some might say 2007 was the year the software industry started taking performance testing seriously. In this month's Peak Performance column, Scott Barber takes a look at what happened in the performance testing field in 2007 that made that so, and ...  Continue Reading

• How to define the scope of functional security testing

  With a many internal threats originating from applications, functional security testing is one of the most reliable ways to identify internal security vulnerabilities.  Continue Reading

• Cracking passwords the Web application way

  Don't make the mistake of thinking your Web site is secure just because it uses SSL. If you don't have proper login controls in place, attackers can crack passwords and get into the application.  Continue Reading

• Five steps for performing an effective software product review

  Review or inspection is an important activity in any project implementation. Performing a good review of the developed product, along with capturing metrics, helps in building a quality product. In this member-submitted article, Murugan Srinivasa ...  Continue Reading

• How to write an effective test report

  This member-submitted tip provides a guideline for essential information that should be included in a test report.  Continue Reading

• Don't mistake user acceptance testing for acceptance testing

  Despite the many references that concur on the definition of acceptance testing, people still get confused. Scott Barber clarifies things in this month's Peak Performance column.  Continue Reading

• Watch the metrics during your load tests

  In this member-submitted tip, Steve Cam says monitoring the metrics during your load tests will help you detect performance-related issues.  Continue Reading

• Who does what in a Testing Center of Excellence?

  With a Testing Center of Excellence (TCE) an organization can improve its software testing. Learn how and what each TCE participant does in this article from David W. Johnson  Continue Reading

• What to look for in a Web application security testing tool

  If you do a lot of Web application security scanning, any testing tool you use must have these features, says security expert Kevin Beaver. They will save you lots of time and effort and will increase the number of valid vulnerabilities found.  Continue Reading

• How to test Web site login security

  Input validation is critical for the security of Web sites. Here's a techniques you can use to make sure your site isn't vulnerable to SQL injection.  Continue Reading

• Software testing deliverables: From test plans to status reports

  Core sets of deliverable are required for any software testing phase. In many cases they include a test plan, test case, defect documentation and status report. Learn what is required for each in this tip from David W. Johnson.  Continue Reading

• How to document system, software requirements

  There are various formats you can use to document system and software requirements. However, no single one is sufficient to represent all requirements. You need to follow an integrated approach.  Continue Reading

• The role of a software test manager

  Effective software test managers not only understand the discipline of testing, but they are also able to manage and implement a testing process in their organizations. That requires team leading skills, communication skills, and being able to ...  Continue Reading

• Software requirements: Using models to understand users' needs

  Successful software projects involve users early and often to explore and reach closure on requirements. Using analysis models you can depict user needs with a combination of diagrams and structure text such as tables or templated text.  Continue Reading

• I don't want a Web application security product; I want a solution

  The number of Web application security products available is enough to make your head spin. A better option is a total solution that handles all of your Web application security needs, says application security expert Anurag Agarwal.  Continue Reading