REVIEW - Automated Software Testing - Introduction, Management, and Performance


Title:

Automated Software Testing

Introduction, Management, and Performance

Author:

Elfriede Dustin, Jeff Rashka, John Paul

ISBN:

Publisher:

Addison-Wesley Professional (1999)

Pages:

575pp

Reviewer:

Francis Glassborow

Reviewed:

February 2000

Rating:

★★★☆☆


...if their concept of testing is 'if it compiles and runs then all is well', you could do worse than invest time in reading this book so that you will be able to promote a viable alternative.

I do wish that Addison-Wesley would stop doing this (publishing two titles on the same specialist subject within a few months of each other).

This is a perfectly respectable text on the subject though I think it lacks the linguistic fluency of Software Test Automation which focuses on a specific test methodology, unimaginatively titled; Automated Test Lifecycle Methodology. This is supposed to be the testing parallel to Rapid Application Development. I am not entirely convinced. If it were no more than that I would want my developers to use something more comprehensive. In fact I think ATLM is more than that description implies.

The authors include consideration of such things as gaining management support, test tool evaluation and some aspects of reuse. There are several thought-provoking case studies particularly when it comes to management of teams of software testers.

I think that if your company is responsible for large-scale software that needs proper testing you should become familiar with the available test methodologies. That is just as important as being familiar with A&D methodologies. If I were a programmer on a large- scale project I would expect the management to support my work with properly managed testing regimes. Testing should not be some after- thought added on when things go wrong, nor should it be something that is skimped on the basis that if everyone else does their jobs correctly then testing is superfluous to requirements and therefore a waste of money. Of course I will want to believe that tests will only throw up problems with the work of others but I would much prefer not to find myself working overtime because some incompetent shipped flaky software.

If your company already has a well planned test methodology you can skip this book but if their concept of testing is 'if it compiles and runs then all is well', you could do worse than invest time in reading this book so that you will be able to promote a viable alternative.

The Author's Website is at:http://www.autotestco.com/

Book cover image courtesy of Open Library.





Your Privacy

By clicking "Accept Non-Essential Cookies" you agree ACCU can store non-essential cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Current Setting: Non-Essential Cookies REJECTED


By clicking "Include Third Party Content" you agree ACCU can forward your IP address to third-party sites (such as YouTube) to enhance the information presented on this site, and that third-party sites may store cookies on your device.

Current Setting: Third Party Content EXCLUDED



Settings can be changed at any time from the Cookie Policy page.