Practical Software Testing: A Process Oriented Approach
First published in Software Quality Professional Vol 4, Issue 4, September 2002
| Author | Ilene Burnstein |   |
| Publisher | Springer-Verlag | |
| Published | New York, 2002 | |
| ISBN | 0-387-95131-8 | |
| # of Pages | 699 including appendices | |
CQSE BOK |
Test Planning and Design, Test Execution and Evaluation, Analytical Techniques |
During the twenty years I have spent as a testing manager and the years also spent teaching testing, I first had recommended Boris Beizer for concepts and later Cam Kaner for specifics. However, I never had come across one book that contained the coverage for everything I needed. I often thought I needed to write the definitive book on software testing. Ilene Burnstein has written my book. Practical Software Testing, combines the structured theoretical approach required of a textbook for both undergraduate seniors and graduate students. For the practicing professional, it provides concepts, standards, measurements and practices that support the creation of quality software; and provides the information needed to build the highest caliber individual testing process that integrates with an organizational testing process. Those who seek information on improving their organizational testing process will find this book extremely helpful.
As the author states “This is an exciting time to be a software developer? poor quality software that can cause loss of life or property is no longer acceptable.” She continues, “?The need for software products of high quality has pressured those in the profession to identify and quantify quality factors?and to identify engineering practices that contribute to the development of quality software products.” This book does more than any other to raise the bar on the testing process that lead to quality software products.
The text endeavors to cover many of the topics referenced in the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK). Each chapter, in this text, covers a managerial, technical and/or process-related topic related to testing. Each topic supports the reader’s growth as a test specialist. The relationship of the contents of each chapter to the Testing Maturity Model (ITMM) is described. The reader can find true value-added by integrating the topics into their individual professional activities or studies.
The first nine chapters contain basic material that allow the reader to master fundamental testing concepts at the technical level, and to learn about basic managerial concepts that promote a repeatable and defined testing process. These chapters also highlight the importance of an independent test group, and promote monitoring and controlling of the testing process. Maturity goals at levels 2 and 3 of the TMM have also been integrated into the chapter material.
Chapters 10-15 cover more advanced topics related to levels 4 and 5 of the TMM. These chapters support reviews as a testing activity and the automation of testing activities with tools, qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the test process, and qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the software product under test. Finally, Chapter 16 provides a discussion of test process assessment using the TMM. The chapter also describes some present-day industry applications of the TMM.
Each chapter also includes definitions of key terms and exercises that are helpful in learning the described concepts along with a set of references for the reader who would like further discussion of the topic. Appendix I contains supplementary references including textbooks, papers and Internet Web sites. Appendix II contains a sample test plan to illustrate the typical contents of such a document. Appendix III contains the TMM Questionnaire, ranking algorithms and a full set of TMM Activities. Also included are Tasks, and Responsibilities for those readers interested in assessing their own test process.
Whether you teach software testing, manage software testing, or practice software testing, this is a must-have book. If you are responsible for delivering a quality software product you will appreciate its value as you implement the topics and activities outlined in this book.