Archive for March, 2011

The Best of Both Worlds

Experts agree that test automation isn’t easy and there has been a lot of debate over which approach leads to better and easier test automation – record and playback or programmatic? Original Software took this debate one stage further and introduced an alternative paradigm to the discussion, during a live webinar. Our claim is that at the end of the day, testing needs to be quick and simple and a programmatic approach is slow, requires technical know how and is hard to maintain. However, simple record and playback technology isn’t the answer either.

The end goal should be to move testers AWAY from programming. After all, why write a program to test a program? The more flexible your programmatic test becomes, the more complex it becomes and the more difficult it becomes to maintain.

Our reputation for ease of use and innovation at Original Software has led us to develop a solution that doesn’t have any underlying programming, but it’s not a basic record and playback solution either – more like record,extend,repeat. The basic test is captured but then can be extended with branch logic, repetitive data, made to loop, check links, find values in tables or combos which might have moved, pass data around the test – without any programming. Fields move around all the time, especially in web pages. Testers shouldn’t expect to have to do anything in their scripts to cope with that, the solution should just deal with it without any human intervention.

With TestDrive, the test criteria is separated from the script. This is a huge contributor to the ease of maintenance. It makes scripts, and parts of scripts, usable in many tests. With good test and script design the number of scripts can be kept to a minimum while the number of automated tests can grow rapidly. Plus, if your application is very volatile and bits of it get thrown away and replaced on a frequent basis you can afford to throw away your automation if the investment to create it in the first place was minimal.

Surely this is valid script ‘maintenance’? Take a look for yourself  by watching the recording of The Test Automation Debate – Programmatic versus Record and Playback today and tell us what you think.

The Cost of Software Failure

Our Software Testing Hall of Shame hosts a gallery of software glitches all serving to illustrate the importance of testing software. The latest addition comes from the London Stock Exchange where, billions of pounds worth of share trades were lost after the London Stock Exchange’s main trading system ground to a halt shortly after the market opened last month.

Dealers were left twiddling their thumbs and angry after the LSE officially called a halt to all trading on its electronic order-driven system.

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) has been the focus of much unwanted attention over the past few months, following problems with its new trading platform, MillenniumIT, that caused irregularities appearing on traders’ screens and trading downtime.

Could these problems have been avoided with more thorough QA procedures? Our guess is yes. This is a great example of how business risk is heightened when systems are launched too quickly, not allowing enough time for testing. But then again, the 15-month system replacement has had a catalogue of problems from the start.

What do you think? What can be done in the future to prevent this sort of thing happening again?

UK 2011 Census Not Written by Testers

Its Census time in the UK, an event that comes round once every 10 years, which requires every householder to ensure they collect a full set of personal data, or face a £1000 fine.

What has this got to do with testing? Well quite a lot really when you examine the ways that the questions have been crafted.

My favourite blogger, Tony Simms, offers a lighthearted and amusing write up for testing types and I thought I would share it with you all.

Read more here.

Getting ready for TestExpo?

It’s that time of the year again when Sogeti put on their event management hats and roll out the red carpet for TestExpo on Wednesday 23rd March 2011, where we will be joining them at the only software testing exhibition in the UK.

Most of you are probably familiar with TestExpo, but if you are not, it is the type of event where you can mingle with other Software Testers, Test Managers, Consultants and Quality Assurance Professionals. TestExpo is the only event in the software testing industry that you can attend for free and talk to software testing solution vendors, listen to presentation topics about the latest innovation in testing and network!

Sogeti have done a great job in hosting TestExpo since its takeover from previous owners QBit, but what are your thoughts? I am interested to find out if events such as TestExpo are still important to you in finding out what the new developments and trends are in the testing industry?

The Software Testing Club released a great publication before Christmas called “A Tester Is For Life Not Just For Christmas“, which is a collection of survey answers from lots of software testing professionals. As I read through the interesting answers I noticed a theme occuring, and that theme seemed to indicate that testers felt that software testing certification is behind the times and the only way to improve the software testing craft is to attend events, read blogs, network in forums and learn as much as you can on your own. Some felt that skilled software testers were in short supply because certification has not moved on and so testers must get by on their own.

Does this sound familar? If so, do events such as TestExpo help to fill your knowledge cup? What are your thoughts about this issue and will you be attending TestExpo this year?

Looking forward to your thoughts!

The Test Automation Debate: Record & Playback versus Programmatic

Experts agree that test automation isn’t easy and there has been a lot of debate over which approach leads to better and easier test automation – record and playback or programmatic. Original Software would like to take this debate one stage further and introduce a new paradigm to the discussion. Join in the discussion by registering today.