Better Software Magazine Articles

Just Use It!

Like exercise, usability testing is something we all say we want to do but somehow never get around to doing. Yet, as the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Find out how to take the first steps toward a real usability testing regimen.

A Perfect FIT

Programmers, how do you make test-driven development better? By involving those outside of development in writing test scenarios. FIT is a tool that’s being used by many to do just that. Dave Astels will show you how.

Dave Astels
Soap Opera Testing

Test design, FUN? Hans Buwalda thinks so. His approach will infuse your testing with creativity and drama. Careful, you might get hooked!

Hans Buwalda's picture Hans Buwalda
Inside the Mind of an Exploratory Tester

Among the hardest things to explain is something that everyone already knows. We all know how to listen, how to read, how to think, and how to tell anecdotes about the events in our lives. As adults, we do these things every day. Yet the level possessed by the average person of any of these skills may not be adequate for certain special situations.Exploratory tester James Bach describes eight key skills that expert explorers possess, and how you can develop them too.

James Bach's picture James Bach
The Power of "What If..." and

Sometimes your imagination can be your most valuable testing tool. Learn when to use scenario tests, when not to, and nine ways to make them work better for you.

Cem Kaner
Testing the Programs That Test Programs

This edition warns of the trouble that comes when you start testing the programs that test programs. Next-generation tools could be just what your project needs. Linda Hayes explains the pros and cons of implementing such a solution.

Linda Hayes's picture Linda Hayes
The Care and Feeding of Testing Skills

It's a good idea to thoroughly study the bugs that have already been found in the software you're testing. It's even better if you study other people's bugs, too. Read on in this issue of Career Development as Elisabeth Hendrickson provides a helpful guide to continuous professional development.

Elisabeth Hendrickson's picture Elisabeth Hendrickson
Troubleshooting Risk-Based Testing

It's not easy to know the ways that a product might fail, determine how important the failures would be if they occurred, and then develop and excuse tests to discover whether or not the product would indeed fail in those ways. Renowned tester James Bach shares some of his tips for dealing with common risk-based testing obstacles.

James Bach's picture James Bach
Taking Test-Driven Development for a Drive

Sometimes TDD (Test-Driven Development) doesn't get used because it can be cost prohibitive to a testing budget. Read on as Joel Spolsky laments the limited real-life usefulness of test-driven development and discusses some common roadblocks to using this testing technique.

Joel Spolsky
Action Figures

Models can be invaluable testing tools. Unfortunately, they are often difficult to automate. One solution is to have testers use action words, or action-based testing, to express models. This enables them to design action-based models that can be easily automated by a programming expert. Let Hans Buwalda teach you how to employ action words to help you get the job done.

Hans Buwalda's picture Hans Buwalda

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