.Net Jonesie - Testing 1 2 3

Sunday, October 30, 2005

Testing 1 2 3 by peter@jonesie.net.nz

I spent last week getting trained on Software Testing. The course was run by Software Education and led by Don Mills. I haven't yet decided if I liked this course or not. Don certainly knows the subject well - he has an amazing memory for dates, names, authors, standards codes etc. I picked up many useful techniques, tips and facts, e.g:

Inspection provides the biggest return of all other testing and QC techniques
Decision Tables are a great tool for creating specifications as well as tests.
Test early, test often
If you don't know how to test it then don't start building it
70% of software faults are the result of poor specification - only 7% are genuine code defects.
Half of all software project are delivered unfinished.

However, the course syllabus is very centered around the standards and passing the qualification exam and I would have preferred more practical examples.

The real problem with testing is the lack of management commitment to doing it. My current employer is much more aware of the need for this - they sent me on the course after all - but previous employers have been unwilling or unaware of how important proper testing is and my feeling is that this is a very common situation for most New Zealand companies doing software development. Given the clear cost savings that can be made by engaging in proper testing practices and the appalling rate of failure of software projects, this is a real concern for the future of software development in New Zealand.

So what as programmers can we do to make this situation better?

Sunday, October 30, 2005 9:43:21 AM (New Zealand Daylight Time, UTC+13:00)

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