Effective Methods for Software Testing [Paperback]

William E. Perry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1995 | ISBN-10: 0471060976 | ISBN-13: 978-0471060970 | Edition: 1

Software Engineering/Software Testing

All the proven testing strategies, tools, and techniques you need to guarantee that your applications do exactly what they're supposed to do!

When it comes to software performance, your customers hate surprises. And the best way to ensure that your systems don't give them any is by implementing a rigorous, fully integrated testing regime that encompasses every phase of the software development life cycle—from design to installation, and beyond. Now, in Effective Methods for Software Testing, internationally recognized software testing expert William Perry provides you with everything you need to do just that, including:

• Tests for all types of software systems, including Client/Server and LANs
• Clear, step-by-step guidelines on how to establish a test approach and overall testing plan
• Proven methodologies for conducting tests quickly and efficiently
• 15 testing techniques covering all phases of the development life cycle
• 42 testing tools and 30 metrics
• Detailed instructions on how to seamlessly integrate the tools and techniques into the development life cycle
• Techniques for evaluating test effectiveness
• Dozens of worksheets and checklists for use during every step of the testing process

Short on theory and long on nuts-and-bolts information and guidance, Effective Methods for Software Testing arms you with what you need to guarantee that your customers get what they deserve—the most usable, bug-free software possible.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Aimed at the working test manager or test engineer, the second edition of William Perry's Effective Methods for Software Testing is one of the most rigorous guides to software testing available. This book provides the latest in standards for measuring how good your organization's commitment to software testing is and many ways to improve it. In all, with its numerous lists and practical step-by-step guide to testing, this book points the way toward more economical and effective software testing.

This book's major strength is its meticulous 11-step guide to all aspects of today's software testing process--from initial analysis and test planning to testing software installation and looking at ways to improve the testing cycle the next time around. The book is filled with to-do lists that enumerate the resources and tasks required for each step with helpful hints for what to do, how to work with management, and how to staff and execute a test plan from start to finish. (There is a chapter devoted to each of the 11 steps.) The text also incorporates the latest in testing standards from the Quality Assurance Institute (QAI), and the author does a good job of integrating testing with today's iterative software methodologies. Another standout here is a look at software tools and how they can simplify the testing process.

Of course, few software shops will be as rigorous in real life with the testing process outlined in this book, but there's little doubt that this exhaustive guide sets a high standard that test engineers can aim for. Written in a somewhat formal--yet clear--style, this book can certainly benefit any software testing engineer or manager. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered: Software testing process fundamentals, Quality Assurance Institute (QAI) test quality assessment, software defects, Kiviatt charts, testing economics, methodologies and costs, test plans, risk analysis, structural and functional testing, dynamic and static testing, manual and automated testing, testing tools, stress testing, compliance testing, security testing, requirements testing, regression testing, 11-step software testing process, testing client/server, and Web-based systems.

From the Publisher

A renowned author provides a complete methodology for software testing based on proven methods and techniques. Perry lucidly explains how to establish a test methodology and an overall plan for testing applications to ensure they work as intended. Contains 13 testing techniques, 42 testing tools and metrics, plus step-by-step instructions on how to integrate these into the system development life cycle. Includes scores of worksheets and checklists which detail every stage of the testing process.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: *A Wiley-QED Publication; 1 edition (September 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471060976
• ISBN-13: 978-0471060970
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,963,327 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An obtuse testing reference, April 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Effective Methods for Software Testing (Paperback)

We've been developing a testing group and I wanted a practical reference for software testing. This is not it. The text presumes you're in an extremely mature environment (CMM 3 or higher) and have requirements, design, adequate resources, etc., etc.. I think the book needs more examples, better organization, and practical solutions to the difficulties you're likely to face in managing large-scale testing organizations to be truly effective. If you want LOTS of arcane procedures, though, and are going to work for a gov't. agency--this is your book!

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Fails the readability tests, March 3, 2003

By 

Moshe Reuveni - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Effective Methods for Software Testing, 2nd Edition (Hardcover)

There are a few things to say in favour of this book:
1. It does walk through on how to approach testing in your organization (however, it is definitely oriented towards organizations with established testing principles).
2. It does give you some background information on software testing. Sadly, these are mainly explained in a textbook like manner, making them hard to digest.
3. It provides a thorough, detailed and tested methodology for software testing throughout the various life cycles. Yet again, due to the book's textbook like manners, I found it hard to actually implement the offered methodologies.

Whatever positive attributes the book has to offer, they pale in comparison to the book's negative aspects:
1. Total unreadability: The book written in such a boring manner, you will find yourself reading every page thrice, and still lack the satisfaction of being able to quote the meaning of what you just read.
2. Lack structure: Paragraphs are thrown in one after the other; it's hard to decipher what leads where.
3. Repetitiveness: Items like "building the test plan" repeat themselves for no particular reason.
4. No examples: It's hard for the text to find any foundation in your mind when there are no examples to help the reader relate to. Given its monotonous descriptions, nothing could hinder the reader's efforts to understand and implement the book's ideas more than that.

The final verdict: Look for another software testing book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Complete Resource for Designing Your Own Testing Processes, October 25, 2006

By 

Randy Rice "Software Testing Consultant & Tra... (Oklahoma City, OK) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Effective Methods for Software Testing (Hardcover)

For several years, I have recommended Bill Perry's Effective Methods for Software Testing, 2nd Ed to people who are looking for testing processes they can customize and apply quickly. I have also included this book as a reference text in many of my testing courses. Obviously, I feel that the book is very helpful to software testers.

In the third edition, there are two fewer chapters, but the coverage of topics has been revised to include areas such as agile testing, the role of testing in software development methodologies, testing internal controls, and an expanded discussion on security testing.

The eleven-step testing process in the second edition has been streamlined to seven steps in this edition. In this process, you will find everything you need to design and customize your own testing process all the way from test planning, through the various phases of testing (static testing, unit testing, integration testing, system testing and acceptance testing), and even through post-implementation testing. The process also addresses analyzing and reporting test results, which also discusses test metrics.

The reasons I'm such a fan of the book are: 1) You get complete templates and examples, including checklists (although the CD contains PDF versions of the forms which would still need to be re-created in a word processor to be usable in electronic format). 2) The book is process-oriented as opposed to a collection of techniques. Collections are fine, but you still need a way to apply them. That's where the processes come in helpful. Also, the workbench process framework is helpful in defining your own processes. 3) These are practical and proven processes that have been used in a variety of organizations worldwide. There is very little theory and a lot of practical application as shown by the examples. 4) You don't have to be a highly mature organization to start applying these techniques. Whether you are CMMi Level 1 or 5, you can still find this information useful. 5)The book also addresses specific topics such as testing commercial-off-the-shelf software and data warehouse applications.

This is a thick book, but then again, it is not designed to be read from front to back. I use it as a desk reference and a collection of processes to help get the job of testing done. I can save hours of work in designing processes by checking here first. My attitude is to tailor the processes to meet my needs. It's also my first stop when doing research. Personally, I like processes because I can transfer them to others and have something tangible to study and improve. However, I will say that if you are "process averse" you will probably not find this book as helpful as someone who does process-based work. The processes described in the book are not heavy ones, though.

This is a good resource for software testers written by someone who has been writing and working in this profession for many years.

Readability - 4

Coverage of topics - 5

Depth of coverage - 5

Credibility - 5

Accuracy - 5

Relevance to software quality - 5

Overall - 5

Reviewed by Randy Rice