software testing definitions and models - how and why to create your own definition
TRANSCRIPT
Some Thoughts on Models and Definitions of Testing• Alan Richardson
• www.compendiumdev.co.uk
• blog.eviltester.com
• seleniumsimplified.com
• blog.javafortesters.com
Is Testing all about bugs?
Is Testing all about bugs?
No. Testing is all about testing.
Only nothing is all about anything else
Nothing is all about the absence of anything else.
The only thing that a thing is all about is
the thing.Testing is not all about bugs because testing is all about
testing.
Testing is all about testing.
But do we know what that means?
Do we know what testing actually is?
Create a definitionbut definitions are hard.
One thing I did...come up with a list,
because Testing is what Testers do
Model your every day testing life
Generalise that into a definition or model of testing
There were a couple of things that
stopped me creating definitions
1 - I found it hard
2- I had a limiting belief about definitions
Limiting Belief: I would be constrained
by that definition
If something doesn't fit into my definition then I'm not going to do it because its not
testing.
The way I got round that was by realising• definitions are just models,
• we can have multiple models,
• we can use multiple definitions,
• our models can be wrong,
• our models change over time
If you're worried that "I have to only do
THIS because that's what TESTING IS"
"I have to only do THIS because that's what TESTING IS"
That's just a model and a belief which
can be changed.
Have you defined testing for yourself
yet?
Here's my current working model
definition...
"Testing is building and comparing a
model of a system to the system."
"Testing is building and comparing
models of a system to the system."
What does that not cover, in what you
do?That might hint at what you value
as important for testing.
And if it does sit well for you then see
where you can take it
Definitions are supposed to
empower us and help us to think about
testing, rather than limit us
In reality it was "process", rather than "definition" that held
us back
Processes can be a direct result of
someone's strong definition or model
Sometimes they are a result of people not
having a model
So they don't know how to evaluate and change the process
against their environment
If you have model, then you can compare
it to your environment and
adjust... adjust the process or the environment or the model
How does my definition or model of
testing help me?
Strategy - Why? Why build this model?
Why compare to this part of the system?
Why... etc.
Your strategy starts with Why
Why are you building and conceptualising certain models and
why they are important to
compare?
Approach - How? How am I going to
compare this model? How am I going to
expand this model? How... etc.
Planning - Who and When? Who is going
to compare this? Who has the skills? When to compare? Who...
When... etc.
Your model, or definition, of testing can help guide you
through your general strategy/approach/
planning process
Some Thoughts on Models and
Definitions of Testing
Summary• The Name is not the Thing
• Build a model of what you do by listing your daily activities
• Creating a definition can be hard, but we can evolve it
• I describe testing as - "Testing is building and comparing models of the system to the system"
• Use other peoples' definitions to guide you to yours - what do they not cover that you value as important?
Summary• Bad processes come from thoughtless models of testing
• Definitions guide us, not constrain us, for Strategy/Approach/Plan
Alan RichardsonRead my writing and blogs at:
• www.compendiumdev.co.uk
• blog.eviltester.com
• seleniumsimplified.com
• blog.javafortesters.com
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