Software Testing Overview and Evolution

Questions and Answers

What is the primary intent of software testing as defined in the content?

To conduct usability assessments

To improve performance under load

To find defects in the software product (correct)

To ensure all features are visible to users

Which of the following is NOT part of the key characteristics of software testing?

Formal process with approved test cases

Examined under various environmental conditions (correct)

Conducted by a specialized testing team

Running programs on a computer

What does validation in software testing aim to achieve?

To identify defects in the application requirements and design (correct)

To confirm that the software is built according to design specifications

To ensure the software operates correctly under load

To demonstrate that major features meet user expectations

Which level of testing is focused on finding faults within the application under test (AUT)?

Verification Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about debugging is correct?

It is concerned with correcting software failures. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of software testing helps in comparing it with other quality assurance tools?

The formal process with a specialized team Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of demonstrating software testing?

To show that major features work with typical inputs Signup and view all the answers

What is automated testing primarily used for?

To automate the mechanical aspects of software testing Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of automated testing?

Elimination of all manual testing Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding the evolution of software testing?

It has evolved from checkout to cover the entire software life-cycle. Signup and view all the answers

What does the tool Mothora primarily aid testers in doing?

Performing automated mutation testing Signup and view all the answers

Which automated testing tool is associated with checking memory leaks?

Rational’s Purify Signup and view all the answers

What is a downside of manual testing mentioned in the content?

It is expensive and time-consuming Signup and view all the answers

Which testing tool is described as a full-scale automated robustness testing harness?

Ballista Signup and view all the answers

What role do automated testing tools play in software testing?

They automate the measurement of test case adequacy. Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining characteristic of automated testing tools mentioned in the content?

They vary in approach, quality, and ease of use Signup and view all the answers

What does the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) NOT involve?

Daily meetings for team updates Signup and view all the answers

Which principle states that developers should not test their own programs?

Independence of testing Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a goal of software testing?

To demonstrate the absence of errors Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a correct testing principle?

Include test cases for unexpected conditions Signup and view all the answers

When testing, why is it important to define expected outputs?

It provides a benchmark for evaluation Signup and view all the answers

What does the probability of locating errors in software modules imply?

It increases with more errors already found Signup and view all the answers

Which of these aspects is NOT emphasized in software testing?

Testing only what the program is supposed to do Signup and view all the answers

Why should developers avoid disposable test cases?

They may not yield valuable results Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Software Testing Overview

Software quality assurance (SQA) controls the quality of software products through structured processes.
Specialized testing teams carry out formal testing, typically at the end of the development phase.
Testing is defined as executing a product to identify defects.
Key attributes include:
- A formal process.
- Involvement of a specialized testing unit.
- Running programs on computers to evaluate performance.
- Adhering to approved testing procedures and test cases.

Evolution of Software Testing

Evolved from simple program checks to comprehensive practices covering the software life-cycle.
Five distinct levels of testing:
- Debug: Correcting identified failures.
- Demonstrate: Showcasing major features with standard inputs.
- Verify: Identifying as many faults in the Application Under Test (AUT) as possible.
- Validate: Identifying faults in requirements, design, and AUT.
- Prevent: Avoiding development errors through techniques such as "test before design."

Misconceptions About Testing

Testing does not primarily aim to demonstrate the absence of errors.
It does not merely show that a program correctly performs its intended functions.
Establishing confidence in program functionality is a byproduct of thorough testing.

Importance of Testing

Competent developers are not infallible; requirements may have unforeseen implications.
System behavior may not be predictable from component specifications.
Various programming languages, user interfaces, and operating systems can contain bugs that lead to failures.
Trustworthiness of reusable classes and objects is essential for reliability.

Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)

Following basic principles enhances testing effectiveness:
- Specify expected outcomes for each test case.
- Developers should not conduct tests on their own programs.
- Thoroughly inspect all test results.
- Create test cases for invalid or unexpected production conditions.
- Test for unintended behaviors as well as intended functions.
- Avoid creating disposable test cases unless the program itself is disposable.
- Plan for the possibility of errors being present.

Test Automation

Test automation involves creating software to facilitate testing processes.
Automates manual testing, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs.
Automated testing tools vary in their quality, methodology, and user-friendliness.

Manual Testing

Primarily used for documentation, producing test guides, and measuring results.
More time-consuming and costly compared to automated testing.

Early Software Testing Tools

Mothora: Automated mutation testing tool-set for creating and executing test cases, measuring adequacy, and bug tracking.
NuMega’s Bounds Checker & Rational’s Purify: Tools for runtime checking to prevent memory leaks and pointer issues.
Ballista: Tool for robustness testing, providing quantitative assessments across different operating systems.

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Description

Explore the fundamental concepts and evolution of software testing in this quiz. Learn about the structured processes of software quality assurance, the roles of specialized testing teams, and the five distinct levels of testing that ensure software reliability. Test your knowledge and understanding of essential testing attributes and practices.