An Intro to Software Testing: Ultimate Guide for Testers

Introduction

Hello and welcome, this course introduces a practical approach to testing software. It bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and real world implementation. This article helps you gain an insight to Software Testing - understand technical aspects and the processes followed in a real working environment.

Who will benefit?

Beginners. For those of you who wish to mould your theoretical software engineering knowledge into practical approach to working in the real world.

Those who wish to take up Software Testing as a profession.

Developers! This is an era where you need to be an “All rounder”. It is advantageous for developers to posses testing capabilities to test the application before hand. This will help reduce overhead on the testing team.

Already a Tester! You can refresh all your testing basics and techniques and gear up for Certifications in Software Testing

An earnest suggestion: No matter which profession you choose, it is advisable that you posses the following skills:

-       Good communication skills – oratory and writing

-       Fluency in English

-       Good Typing skills

By the time you finish reading this article, you will be aware of all the techniques and processes that improves your efficiency, skills and confidence to jump start into the field of Software Testing.

Fun Facts:

Following are some facts that can help you gain a better insight into the realities of Software Engineering.

1. The best programmers are up to 28 times better than the worst programmers.
2. New tools/techniques cause an initial LOSS of productivity/quality.
3. The answer to a feasibility study is almost always “yes”.
4. A May 2002 report prepared for the National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST)(1) estimates the annual cost of software defects in the United States as $59.5 billion.
5. Reusable components are three times as hard to build
6. For every 25% increase in problem complexity, there is a 100% increase in solution 
7. complexity.
8. 80% of software work is intellectual. A fair amount of it is creative. Little of it is clerical.
9. Requirements errors are the most expensive to fix during production.
10. Missing requirements are the hardest requirement errors to correct.
11.  Error-removal is the most time-consuming phase of the life cycle.
12. Software is usually tested at best at the 55-60% (branch) coverage level. 
13. 100% coverage is still far from enough.
14. Rigorous inspections can remove up to 90% of errors before the first test case is run.
15. Maintenance typically consumes 40-80% of software costs. It is probably the most important life cycle phase of software.
16. Enhancements represent roughly 60% of maintenance costs.
17. There is no single best approach to software error removal.

--- **Course Review Synthesis** **Overall Rating:** 4.25/5 **Pros:** - **Comprehensive Content:** The course content is described as exhaustive and applicable, with a clear explanation of software testing concepts. (Content #3, #6) - **Step by Step Approach:** The step-by-step approach is praised for its helpfulness in understanding the material, especially for first-time learners. (Content #5) - **Quality Information:** The information provided within the course is deemed good and clear. Bullet points and explanations are very helpful. (Content #8) - **Quick Lessons:** The pace of the lessons keeps the learners interested, with a nice tempo that's well-received. (Content #9) - **Instructor Clarity:** The instructor’s delivery is clear and audible, which is essential for learning. (Content #7) **Cons:** - **Multimedia Enhancement Needed:** Reviewers suggest incorporating video examples alongside slides to aid in visualizing the content (Content #1), as well as adding real-life examples directly into the slides for easier reference and recall. (Content #4, #10) - **Interactive Elements:** Some learners find the addition of quizzes or lab work would be beneficial for practical skill acquisition. (Content #2) - **Audio-Visual Enhancement:** The course is criticized for having a lack of visual support in slides and an overreliance on verbal explanations, which could be made more engaging with animations or handouts. (Content #11) - **Unnecessary Content:** There are complaints about the presence of horrible music and long intro/outro segments that do not contribute to the learning experience. (Content #3) - **Presentation Organization:** Some reviewers feel that the basic concepts could be covered in a more organized manner for better clarity and understanding. (Content #8) - **Engagement and Interactive Content:** A call for live demonstrations, such as showing software running with bugs popping up, is made to simplify complex topics. (Content #7) - **Presentation Style:** The tutor's method of reading directly from slides without further explanation in simple terms is a point of contention. (Content #6) **Suggestions for Improvement:** - Incorporate more interactive elements like quizzes or practical exercises to enhance the learning experience. - Enhance multimedia content by adding real examples and visual support, such as animations or screenshots, to the slides. - Consider shorter intros and outros for each video segment to maintain engagement and focus on the core content. - Provide additional materials like handouts or supplementary resources that learners can reference later. - Organize the information in a clearer and more detailed manner, particularly when covering basic concepts. **Conclusion:** The course has been well-received for its comprehensive content and clear explanations but could benefit from multimedia enhancements and interactive elements to improve engagement and retention of information. Adjustments to the presentation style and structure will likely contribute to a more effective learning experience.