[comp.software-eng] Software Testing

vrm@blackwater.cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu (Vasile R. Montan) (11/14/90)

   I am just starting to get into some large scale software testing
for the first time and would like to gather some ideas of what other
people are doing in this area.  I would also appreciate any references
that others have found useful.  Right now I have next to nothing so
anything would be helpful.  I am programming in C on various platforms
running Unix.

1. A large part of what I will be testing is an application interface
   library.  I know there are basic testing techniques for this but
   would like to hear some practical experience.

2. The basic idea of the program is to distribute jobs to different
   servers which can be plugged in dynamically.  This means that the
   configuration of the entire system can change over time.
   Currently, I am ignoring this and assuming a set configuration
   which remains constant.  Ultimately, I would like to also test the
   effect of changing the system.

3. The communication between the job disributor and the servers is
   through RPC.  Are there any special case for testing these
   connections?  Are there ways to introduce RPC errors?

4. The servers can run on different platforms which may cause
   problems.

5. Some of the servers are existing programs, but others are developed
   by us.  I need to test the integration of all of them regardless of
   where they were developed.

6. Some servers are developed using the X window system.  Are there
   any automated testing procedures for graphical user interfaces.

   Again, I would appreciate any suggestions; no matter how minor you
think they are.  If there is enough interest I can post a summary of
the responses I get on comp.software-eng.

-- Vasile

--
**************** The above opinions are mine, all mine. *****************
Vasile R. Montan                          Bell Atlantic Knowledge Systems 
                                          9 South High Street             
vrm@cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu                    Morgantown, WV 26505            

daves@hpopd.HP.COM (Dave Straker) (11/14/90)

The best books I know of on testing are:

Hetzel - The complete guide to software testing

Beizer - System testing and quality assurance

Beizer - Software testing techniques

Myers - The art of software testing

Also check out IEEE 829


Know all these and you can set yourself up as a consultant!

Dave

johnb@srchtec.UUCP (John Baldwin) (11/15/90)

Also, don't pass up:

"Software Validation, Verification, Testing and Documentation";
Andriole, Stephen J. (Ed.); 1986, Petrocelli Books, Inc.; Princeton, NJ.

   [A compilation of reports submitted to the National Bureau of
   Standards, with some filler added to give the reader some groundwork
   which may have been omitted from the original reports]


Related to software testing:

"Software Reliability: Measurement, Prediction, Application";
   Musa, John D., Anthony Iannino, and Kazuhira Okumoto; 1987; McGraw-Hill;
   New York, NY.


   [Heavy on the math; accessible to the non-mathematical if you pay
   attention to what they're saying and are willing to push the "I believe"
   button when they interpret the ramifications of the math]



-- 
John T. Baldwin                     | "Pereant qui ante nos nostra dixerunt!"
Search Technology, Inc.             | (A plague on those who said our good
johnb%srchtec.uucp@mathcs.emory.edu |  things before we did!)