Conference Presentations

Beyond GUI: What You Need to Know about Database Testing

Today's complex software systems access heterogeneous data from a variety of back-end databases. The intricate mix of client-server and Web-enabled database applications are extremely difficult to test productively. Testing at the data access layer is the point at which your application
communicates with the database. Tests at this level are vital to improve not only your overall test strategy, but also your product's quality. Mary Sweeney explains what you need to know to test the SQL database engine, stored procedures, and data views. Find out how to design effective automated tests that exercise the complete database layer of your applications. You'll learn about the most common and vexing defects related to SQL databases and the best tools available to support your testing efforts.

Mary Sweeney, Exceed Training
Test Automation with Open Source Tools using An Agile Development Process

Test automation, open source tools, and agile methods are three important trends in software development. By employing and integrating all three, a project team at Comcast was able to quickly build and deliver a critical application to its customers. Pete Dignan and Dan Lavender discuss the rationale behind the decision to follow an XP-like process in this case study. They explain how the

Peter Dignan, ProtoTest LLC
A Whodunit? Testing Lessons from the Great Detectives

What can we learn from Sherlock Holmes, Quincy, Joe Friday, Dick Tracy, Lt. Colombo, MacGyver, and other famous detectives to help your team become great testers? Holmes used deductive reasoning-a must for bug isolation and exploratory testing. Quincy’s forte was forensic analysis-perfect for cause-and-effect testing. Friday was persistent and regimented-practical for process-oriented software QA. Dick Tracy would employ a head-on attack to find nasty bugs. Colombo would trick the system into revealing a defect by acting naïve. And MacGyver would adapt available tools and resources to creatively solve testing problems. Robert Sabourin examines the persona of great detectives and how you can apply their approaches to test real-world testing applications for Web, e-commerce, and all complex IT software projects. Help your test team become great detectives, too!

Robert Sabourin, AmiBug.com Inc
High Volume Test Automation

Most test design starts from the premise that extensive testing is not possible--too may tests, not enough time. What if we could generate millions of tests, execute them, and evaluate them automatically. This would dramatically change your approach to test planning. Learn how to perform this style of automation using free scripting tools (such as Ruby or Python) that are reasonably priced and easy to learn. Also, to use the system test automation tool you already use (but in a different way) or collaborating with your developers to build test diagnostics and execution support into the software. Cem Kaner describes several examples of high volume automated testing, lays out a structure for thinking about this style of testing, and suggests ideas for trying it in your shop.

Cem Kaner, Florida Institute of Technology
Testing "Best Practices": From Microsoft's Context to Yours

Testing is a never-ending series of trade-off decisions, what to test and what not to test; when to stop testing and release the product; how to budget your testing resources for automated vs. manual testing; how much code coverage is good enough; and much more. To make these difficult judgement calls, we often turn to the "best practices" recommended by testing experts and others who have encountered similar problems. The key to successful implementation is matching their "best practices" to your own context (team make-up, company culture, market
environment, etc.). Barry Preppernau shares his insights gathered from over 20 years of testing experience at Microsoft. You'll learn about the tools and processes that have been successful within Microsoft and ways for you to identify, adapt, and implement successful test improvement
initiatives within your organization.

Barry Preppernau, Microsoft Corporation
Leading Successful Software Projects

Presentation Leading Successful Software Projects

Andy Kaufman, Institute for Leadership Excellence and Development
Efficient Testing Using the Pairwise Approach

This article discusses the All-Pairs testing method and how to implement it for your testing team. Detailed instructions are also provided.

Bernie Berger, Test Assured Inc.
TTCN-3: A Standard Test Scripting Language

In this article, the author lays out the case for having a dedicated, standardized test language. The benefits of using a TTCN-3 are also detailed. Read on for an explanation of TTCN-3 and learn how TTCN-3 may be instrumental in bringing testing into the modern age.

Matt Graney, Telelogic North America Inc
Bug Taxonomies: How to Generate Better Tests

This article discusses how to use bug taxonomies to help generate better tests. The author explains that a test team's goal should be to create a useful taxonomy that can be used as a framework to brainstorm for possible risks to the application.

Giri Vijayaraghavan, Texas Instruments Inc
Practical Experiences in Graph-Based Testing

This article discusses design techniques and models implemented in graph-based testing. Test script models are also detailed along with test script development.

Alan Richardson, Compendium Developments Ltd

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