Effective Methods for Software Testing, Third Edition

Chapter 3. Building the Software Testing Process

The testing process is the means by which the test strategy is achieved. The team that develops the testing process uses the test strategy as the requirements for the process. Their task is to determine the tests and methods of performance needed to address the risks that the test strategy identifies.

Following a test process has two significant advantages. First, the tester does not have to determine the process to be used for software testing because that process already exists. Second, when all testers follow the same process, they will develop better means for testing. These means will be incorporated into the process by continually improving the software testing process.

This chapter describes the construction of a workbench for building software. The workbench illustrates both the “do” and the “check” procedures. The “do” procedures are the test procedures, and the “check” procedures determine whether the “do” procedures were performed correctly. The chapter then identifies the considerations for customizing a process for testing, as well as explains the need for a test process. Part Three of this book details the seven steps proposed as a generic test process.

Software Testing Guidelines

Experience has shown there are six general software testing guidelines that, if followed, can significantly improve software testing. These guidelines are the primary reason for building the software testing process:

1. Software testing should reduce ...