Software Engineering and Testing Overview

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Questions and Answers

How can a defective method that mutates an external object be addressed?

By modifying the external object directly.

By isolating the method from other components.

By increasing the number of dependencies in the system.

By returning additional data to the caller. (correct)

Why is isolateability important in testing code?

It simplifies the overall structure of the application.

It allows for quick identification of faults in the code. (correct)

It helps in increasing the number of dependencies.

It ensures that all components interact correctly.

What technique can enhance isolateability in large systems?

Combining multiple small functions into larger ones.

Using mocking to duplicate external dependencies.

Decomposing larger functions into smaller, self-contained functions. (correct)

Reducing the number of tests performed.

In simulation-based environments, what is the purpose of mocking?

To create fake components that yield predictable outputs. Signup and view all the answers

What advantage does mocking provide in testing code functionality?

It reduces the likelihood of non-deterministic results. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of software engineering compared to programming?

Covering a broader spectrum of tasks beyond just building Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered the largest category of defects that can arise in software development?

Faulty requirements Signup and view all the answers

What problem arises when requirements are ignored during software development?

Software behaving unexpectedly from the user's perspective Signup and view all the answers

What can be a consequence of skipping tests due to time constraints?

Assuming no mistakes were made Signup and view all the answers

What type of error occurs when the design is incorrectly translated from high-level to low-level specifications?

Design errors Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes untested implementations in software development?

Code that has not been subjected to necessary tests Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about changing requirements from the customer's perspective?

Changing requirements can lead to the software behaving unexpectedly Signup and view all the answers

What issue is highlighted by the phrase 'garbage in, garbage out' in relation to software requirements?

Incorrect initial specifications will lead to flawed outcomes Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of acceptance testing?

To ensure that customer and developer expectations align. Signup and view all the answers

Why are acceptance tests generally slower than other types of tests?

They rely on manual processes using production data. Signup and view all the answers

What challenge is associated with integration testing?

It can be difficult to identify the root-cause of failures. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes A/B testing?

A strategy to validate operational performance of different software versions. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary characteristic of smoke/canary testing?

It serves as a quick check to ensure system functionality. Signup and view all the answers

How does integration testing differ from unit testing?

Integration testing checks the interaction of multiple parts, while unit testing focuses on individual components. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key advantage of performing smoke tests?

They can confirm system reliability before conducting extensive tests. Signup and view all the answers

Which testing method is least focused on isolated failures?

Acceptance testing Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of coverage-guided white box testing?

To measure the proportion of the system being tested Signup and view all the answers

Which type of coverage ensures that both branches of an if statement are executed?

Branch Coverage Signup and view all the answers

What does flow-independent coverage primarily measure?

The proportion of blocks executed by the test suite Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant disadvantage of white box testing?

It can lead to confirmation bias among testers. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of coverage requires executing all possible paths in the codebase?

Path Coverage Signup and view all the answers

What does coverage % measure in white box testing?

The ratio of executed lines to total lines in the code Signup and view all the answers

What should be avoided to ensure effective white box testing?

Ignoring uncovered code areas Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following does NOT represent a high-level category of coverage?

State Coverage Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception regarding coverage-driven testing?

It guarantees no bugs in the system. Signup and view all the answers

What does the MCC criteria focus on in coverage testing?

The evaluation of independent statements with respect to function outcomes Signup and view all the answers

What is a common shortcoming of having high coverage in test suites?

It does not indicate that the code is correct. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of assertions in testing?

To define expected outcomes and check behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Boundary Value Analysis (BVA) in testing?

To target the boundaries of an input domain. Signup and view all the answers

Why might developers prefer to start with simpler coverage techniques?

To gradually improve test quality over time. Signup and view all the answers

What does black box testing primarily rely on?

Validation against a given set of specifications. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the relationship between coverage and test quality?

Quality tests are more important than the level of coverage. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of the testing process does coverage most directly assess?

The execution of the system under test. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential consequence of having incorrect assertions in test cases?

Defects may remain undetected despite passing tests. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Software and Software Engineering

Software consists of instructions that computers execute, transforming inputs into outputs through computation.
Software engineering combines scientific, economic, social, and practical skills to create, validate, and maintain software that is reliable and efficient.
Programming represents only one aspect—building—of the broader software engineering process.

Software Testing

Different testing approaches focus on identifying bugs and enhancing development efficiency.
Faulty requirements lead to poor software outcomes; incomplete or incorrect specifications result in inadequate software.
Design and implementation errors occur during the translation of requirements into designs and code.
Untested implementations might be skipped due to time constraints, which can lead to undetected issues.

Testing Types and Methods

Acceptance Testing: Conducted by customers in their environment, ensuring software matches their expectations, but slow and less automated.
Integration Testing: Validates interaction among units, slower but checks that subsystems work together cohesively.
A/B Testing: Compares different software versions in production to determine performance differences, often guiding business decisions.
Smoke/Canary Testing: Quick checks to ensure overall system functionality, identifying critical faults before running comprehensive tests.

Isolateability and Mocking

Isolateability allows for the pinpointing of faults in the code, enabling precise testing independently from other components.
Mocking replaces dependencies with controlled inputs and outputs, increasing testing accuracy and reliability.
The effectiveness of tests can be compromised without sufficient control over inputs or if the unit is not sufficiently isolated.

White Box Testing

Coverage is utilized to ensure various system parts are tested, helping identify untested portions.
Provides beneficial insights for regression testing, confirming that new code changes do not break existing functionality.
Higher coverage goals focus on detecting defects, but perfection is unobtainable due to time constraints in testing.

Coverage Categories

Flow-independent Coverage: Simple and economical tests that confirm various parts of the system execute successfully.
- Includes block, line, and statement coverage, ensuring each section is reached during testing.
Flow-dependent Coverage: More complex, it requires tracking the paths and branches executed in the code, such as branch and path coverage.

Coverage-Guided Testing

An iterative approach focusing on uncovering code gaps, designing specific test cases, and executing until coverage goals are met.
Tools track executed parts of the program, providing actionable insights for developers to address uncovered areas.

Limitations of Coverage

Coverage alone does not guarantee defect-free code. Risks include inadequate test cases and incorrect assertions.
Developers often start with basic coverage types and progress to more stringent methods as coverage improves.
Quality of tests is prioritized over achieving arbitrary coverage milestones.

Black Box Testing

Involves testing without knowledge of the internal workings of the software; it relies on specifications to validate output correctness.
Boundary Value Analysis (BVA) focuses on testing edge conditions in input domains, targeting problem-prone areas by analyzing boundary inputs.

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Description

Explore the fundamentals of software engineering and the various testing methodologies employed to ensure software quality. Understand the significance of accurate requirements and implementations in the software development process. This quiz covers essential concepts, testing types, and methods crucial for effective software engineering.