Effective Methods for Software Testing, Third Edition

Chapter 4. Selecting and Installing Software Testing Tools

A tool can be defined as “anything that serves as a means to get something done.” It is important to recognize that you first must determine what that something is before acquiring a tool. Chapter 3 discussed the concept of a work process (the means for accomplishing a testing objective). Within the work process would be one or more tools to accomplish the objective. For example, in developing scripts, one might wish to use a capture/playback tool.

This chapter describes the relationship between tools and work processes. The chapter then explains the steps involved in selecting and installing a tool, as well as creating a toolbox for testers. Finally, the chapter proposes how to train testing staff in the use of tools, as well as designate a tool manager to provide testers the support they need in using those tools.

Integrating Tools into the Tester’s Work Processes

It is important to recognize the relationship between a tool and a technique. A technique is a procedure for performing an operation; a tool is anything that serves as a means to get something done. Let’s look at a non-testing example. If you want to attach two pieces of wood together, you might choose a nail as the means for accomplishing that bonding process. Joining the two pieces of wood together is a technique for building an object; a nail is a tool used to join two pieces of wood together. A technique for inserting the nail into the two pieces of wood might ...