Integrated Test Design and Automation: Using the Testframe Method - Softcover

Buwalda, Hans; Watters, Paul A.; Pinkster, Iris; Janssen, Dennis

 
9780201737257: Integrated Test Design and Automation: Using the Testframe Method

Synopsis

This practical guide enables readers to understand and apply the TestFrame method ¿ an open method developed by the authors and their colleagues which is rapidly becoming a standard in the testing industry.

With the aid of this book, readers will learn how to

  • customize the TestFrame method for their organizations
  • develop reusable testing standards
  • make optimum use of automated testing tools
  • reuse and maintain test products

IT managers will learn how to improve the control the test process and assess results, and expert testers will learn effective ways of automating test execution in a structured way.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

Hans Buwalda is the original architect behind the Action Words concept that now forms part of the TestFrame method. Dennis Janssen is product manager at the TestFrame Research Centre and has worked as a test manager at several large financial institutions. Iris Pinkster is a test coordinator who has introduced structured testing in a wide variety of industries, and is now responsible for the TestFrame Analysis courses at CMG in the Netherlands. 0201737256AB10162001

From the Back Cover

Zero-defect software is the holy grail of all development projects, and sophisticated techniques have now emerged to automate the testing process so that high-quality software can be delivered on time and on budget. This practical guide enables readers to understand and apply the TestFrame method -- an open method developed by the authors and their colleagues that is rapidly becoming a standard in the testing industry.With the aid of this book, readers will learn how to: customize the TestFrame method for their organizations develop reusable testing standards make optimum use of automated testing tools reuse and maintain test productsIT managers will learn how to improve the control the test process and assess results, and expert testers will learn effective ways of automating test execution in a structured way. 0201737256B10162001

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

No company can function without IT. Without computer programs and information systems, products cannot be made at all or remain unsold, invoices are not sent, and communications grind to a standstill. IT has developed from being a precondition into being one of a company’s primary operations.

This means that heavy demands are made on the system’s operation. Quality-to-market is of crucial importance. Double entries in address files may be annoying, but critical incidents can occur if modern technology lets you down during company operations. Poor quality results in loss of clients and damages the company’s reputation. In short, a system’s failure can have dramatic consequences for the core business of a company or institution.

Elaborate manual testing, to safeguard a high quality-to-market, is a time-consuming process — time that is not usually available because the time-to-market span is becoming increasingly short. Further deregulation and globalization of markets has intensified competitive pressures. Products and services must be launched as rapidly as possible. In practice, however, the development of IT systems often takes more time than expected, while the completion date is always on your tail.

This is the dilemma you face. Elaborate testing takes too much time and any drastic shortening of the test path paves the way for production faults. Just consider the costs of rectifying production faults if they only surface after the development process.

The authors describe a testing method that offers a solution to this dilemma. TestFrame® provides a structured approach to testing thus enabling your organization to perform tests rapidly, as well as thoroughly. The structured testing approach is represented in the TestFrame temple metaphor, and TestFrame phasing. This book discusses ways of putting the TestFrame model and phasing into practice. It does not aspire to be a comprehensive theoretical discussion about testing. However, it does provide a basis for performing tests in a practical way, and contains many examples that clarify key testing principles. Roadmap

Testing is a complex matter. There is much to say about testing, and this book covers many different aspects. Different stakeholders, such as IT managers, test managers, test analysts, test navigators, project managers, developers, and QA officers, are interested in testing. Not every part of this book is relevant to everyone. The chapter outlining the principles behind the TestFrame method (Chapter 1) is a ‘must read’ for everyone and is the basis for the other chapters. For specialized groups of readers, the following is recommended:IT managers will be interested in the place of testing in an organization, and an outline of the TestFrame approach. This information can be found in Chapters 1 and 2; it is recommended that test managers read the chapters concerning preparation of a test project (risk analysis, test strategy, writing a test plan), the chapter concerning test execution (planning of execution, error management) and, of course, the chapter specifically about test management (Chapter 6); test analysts should read the chapter Analysis (Chapter 3) where a method is presented that leads to a structured, maintainable test set. Special attention is given to selecting the right testing techniques for the job at hand. Since test analysts are greatly influenced by choices that are made during the preparation, this chapter is particularly relevant; test navigators are the testers who are concerned with automating the test. Navigation (Chapter 4) discusses test automation within TestFrame, and is a ‘must read’ for them. Since these activities are directly related to some tasks that are performed during the test analysis, Chapter 3 is also recommended; project managers and developers will mainly be interested in the interfaces between development and testing. These are described in the preparation, execution and test management chapters (Chapters 2, 5 and 6); QA officers focus on the test process seeking to answer questions such as is it measurable, traceable and provable?’ TestFrame provides a means of achieving a structured, controlled test process with tangible products. This information is found throughout the book. However, a QA officer could begin with Chapter 1 and read other chapters when the need occurs.Acknowledgements

The TestFrame Research Center supported the writing of this book. The Research Center is part of CMG. Its aim is to carry on developing the TestFrame method and testing as a field of expertise within CMG.

This is also an appropriate place to thank several people for the enormous amount of work they have carried out. First and foremost, the authors want to thank all the people who have contributed to the book — Elvira Beekman, Bob van de Burgt, Rolf Daalder, Dirk van Dael, Erik Jansen, Maartje Kasdorp, André Kok, Marc Koper, Bob Mohr, Peter den Ouden, Jan Paulusse and team Rotterdam, Henk Sanders, Chris Schotanus, Anita Vocht and Michiel Vroon.

No less important are the reviewers who have gone through all the material and provided useful comments. Thank you Martijn Brouns, Erik Brouwer, Steven Frisart, Edwin Hubers, Gerrit de Koning, Rik Marselis, Frank Stolker, Jon van der Strate, Kie Liang Tan, Bob Verhoeff, Jeroen Voorn, Michel Wemmenhove, Menno Wieringa and Leon Wolters. In addition, several anonymous reviewers’ contributions improve the book.

Finally, we would, of course, like to thank our customers — they gave us the opportunity to apply and improve TestFrame in challenging test projects. 0201737256P10162001

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