Software Testing Foundation:
A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction

Fundamentals of Software Testing

• Assessing the goals of testing
• Identifying causes of software defects
• Organising testing processes
• Planning
• Controlling
• Analysing
• Designing
• Implementing and executing
• Evaluating exit criteria and reporting

Ensuring Testing throughout the Software Life Cycle

Key objectives of testing

• Finding defects during the life cycle
• Implementing test levels
• Component
• Integration
• System
• Acceptance

Recognising key concepts in maintenance testing

• Identifying reasons for maintenance testing
• Performing maintenance testing

Comparing the four test types

• Functional
• Nonfunctional
• Structural
• Retesting

Coping with the psychology of testing

• Contrasting the mind-set of developers and testers
• Deciphering levels of independence

Implementing Static Analysis Techniques

Determining when to apply each technique

• Defining roles and responsibilities
• Comparing formal and informal reviews
• Discussing the types of review
• Walkthrough
• Inspection
• Technical

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
• Decision
• Condition

Deploying experience-based knowledge

• Intuition
• Experience
• Knowledge

Test Management

The importance of a test policy

• Defining goals and objectives
• Assigning roles and responsibilities
• Independence
• Test leader
• Tester
• Standardising test documentation
• Monitoring and controlling test progress

Structuring a test plan

• Writing a test plan
• Identifying objectives
• Assessing the entry and exit criteria
• Assigning appropriate resources
• Resolving defects

Interpreting a test summary report

• Evaluating summary report content
• Applying common metrics

Managing incidents

• Recording
• Analysing
• Closing

Addressing project and product risks

• Contractual
• Organisational
• Technical
• Assess
• Determine
• Implement

Implementing Configuration Management (CM)

Defining the functions of CM

• Change control
• Version control
• Traceability
• Configuration identification and audits

Evaluating objectives of CM

• Ensuring proper version control
• Generating incident reports

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