Conference Presentations

Taking Test Automation Mainstream

By now, most test organizations have implemented at least one test automation tool. However, the success of these tools is by no means guaranteed. Why is it that these products often fail to meet their potential? What can managers do to increase the tool's return on investment? Andrew Pollnew helps you with ways to ensure that tools support rather than hinder you. He discusses a number of common-but-flawed approaches to automation, then explains how to change them.

Andrew Pollner, ALP International Corporation
Performance: The Overlooked Quality Metric

The amount of time allocated to quality testing is always under pressure due to slippage in development and delivery dates-this often results in performance testing being overlooked in the quality process. This presentation examines various factors of performance testing including why it's important, how to determine the metrics that are essential to individual situations, and how to automate the collection and analysis of data. Ernest Huber gives you an example performance testing process, much of which is applicable to your quality assurance tasks.

Ernest Huber, TCI Solutions, Inc.
Software Test Automation Spring 2002: Test Automation With Action Words: A Practical Experience

Action Word Testing. This concept illuminates testing as an action, a process, an art. Learn how Action Word Testing can be applied to deal with critical test issues such as lack of functional knowledge of a system under test; instability of the design during test development; and automation of 100% of the functional or technical tests. Hans Buwalda uses a financial exchange that's introduced a new electronic trading system to demonstrate Action Word Testing (approximately 15,000 tests). In this example, automation of the entire test was essential, but it was difficult to achieve.

Hans Buwalda, LogiGear
A Practical Approach to Early-Cycle QA Test Automation

Everyone knows that a large body of automated unit tests for classes, subsystems, and frameworks adds to overall code quality. However, the "burden" of unit test automation is frequently placed squarely on the shoulders of developers because of the perception that only a developer can write a unit test. Since QA personnel typically test from the user interface-and usually have to wait until later in the development cycle for the availability of that interface-they're often left to scramble at the end of the cycle to get their testing done. Michael Silverstein reveals a model for early-cycle collaboration between developers and testers where testers augment the developers' unit testing activities without adding additional process overhead.

Michael Silverstein, SilverMark, Inc.
Effective Test Automation and Deployment Strategy for Java Servlet and JSP Applications

Recent advances in Java servlet and JSP technology have gained popularity and support from the industry. The backbone of this technology is the J2EE platform and Model 2 JSP architecture which effectively separate presentation from content. However, since this design includes a wide spectrum of technical areas, developing and automating JSP test applications is a challenge for many test professionals. This presentation teaches you to employ and modify a logic to build a customized performance testing tool for any JSP application, including the successful deployment of the application into the servlet container. Heesun Park also gives you practical tips for JSP application deployment strategy.

Heesun Park, SAS Institute
Testing in the Fast Lane: Automated Acceptance Testing in an eXtreme Programming Environment

Are you looking to apply the values of eXtreme Programming (XP) to test automation? In eXtreme Programming Explained, Kent Beck compares XP to driving a car-meaning the team must make constant corrections to stay on track. This includes plotting the course, establishing check points, tracking progress, and occasionally even asking for directions. But XP test professionals have a need for speed given their tight deadlines, so is this much process really possible? To be the windshield and not the bug, you have to use lightweight automated test frameworks and tools that won't slow you down. Lisa Crispin delivers pointers on selecting or developing these tools to assist in test automation.

Lisa Crispin, BoldTech Systems
Software Test Automation Fall 2001: Test Automation with Action Words: A Practical Experience

Action Word Testing. This concept illuminates testing as an action, a process, an art. Learn how Action Word Testing can be applied to deal with critical test issues such as lack of functional knowledge of a system under test; instability of the design during test development; and automation of 100% of the functional or technical tets. Hans Buwalda uses a financial exchange that's introduced a new electronic trading system to demonstrate Action Word Testing (approximately 15,000 tests). In this example, automation of the entire test was essential, but it was difficult to achieve. Explore this real-world situation as it reveals the issues encountered in the process, and the lessons learned from them.

Hans Buwalda, LogiGear Corporation
Value without Numbers

Justifying the role of testing and measuring the value of testers' performance are problems that many of us struggle with. James Bach offers some things he finds helpful when he has to give a quantitative answer to the question, "What is your group saving the company?"

James Bach's picture James Bach
All Hands on Deck

The challenge: With one week to go before release, the product still needs to be put through its paces. The test team: A few developers, a network engineer, a receptionist, an office manager, and a CTO. In this real-life story, Geordie Keitt explains how one dot-com employed some nontraditional testers to uncover the bugs in their new system.

Geordie Keitt
Tracking Wild Pointers

Tracking down wild pointer bugs is not easy; the wacky symptoms that result are inconsistent and confusing. Pointers are arguably the most difficult class of bugs to handle. Ibrahim El-Far and Herbert Thompson give some examples of tracking down wild pointers and tips on how to tame them.

Ibrahim K. El-Far

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