Automation in software testing is a subject of constant debate among software clients, developers, and testers. Purchasing customized software is costly. However, the real cost only comes during maintenance and updating. It is during these times when regular usage is putting the software to its limits. Reprogramming the software will require more time and money. That is why software testing is important before the company installs and implements it.

There are two types of software testing that software developers use. There is the manual software testing and automated testing. Manual testing relies solely on direct human interaction. It may involve representatives from the client side or third party testers that are independent of the software company. Pure handworks complete each testing process, from verification to validation.

Furthermore, the automated testing approach is not entirely free from any human interaction. However, the tasks of checking the program unit by unit is easier since the test automation software will prepare and automate the test cases. Thus, it lessens the need for human supervision, thereby reducing the cost of hiring human testers.

Before implementing software test automation, the client must first set up the following requirements; comprehensive test cases, predicable or expected outcomes, dedicated testing environment, and competent and consistent resources. The most surprising thing about test automation is that it is expensive in terms of implementation. Although this technique requires fewer hands, the cost of programming the test automation software is relatively high.

If the company plans to upgrade its testing department, the test automation approach is not a viable stand-alone testing option. There are ways though to make this approach cost-effective. The first thing the client needs to do is use an automation-testing handbook. Available in software institutes and vendors, this helpful resource will guide the client in choosing the best testing tool.

Second, it is not best to choose test automation if the client will test the software once. It is not a worth-the-buck investment. Instead, go for manual testing. However, if there is a need to test a new software system repeatedly, then the company should go for test automation.

Clients should ask the software vendor or the developer to come up with the best test cases. Concentrate more on the end-user side or practicality of the program, and not too much on technicalities.

In addition to choosing test automation only during repetitive tests, it is also advisable to consider automation for easy, manageable, and straightforward test cases. Do not spend too much time and labor on simple test works.

While most programmers see it as an effective choice, in reality, the record and playback method is a big software-testing nightmare. This option is too technical. In fact, it does not provide relevant results for your tests. However, this is a good option for proving client concept. Unless the client is confident that the software is perfect, he must do away with this method.

Again, automation in software testing should not replace manual checking. Test automation is a way to make the tasks easier and faster, allowing the testers to focus more on complex tasks, rather than spend time on simple but tedious test works.




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For most, testing simply means taking all of the bugs and problems out of a specific piece of technology. However, for those that know technology, they also know that there is much more that is involved in making sure that a piece of software works correctly. The software testing techniques that are used in order to make the most of software is one that will allow for a computer, system or gadget to completely function on several levels. Understanding these techniques is one that will allow any technician to further step into the capability to completely test software.

When you are beginning to test, you will begin by learning about the different types of testing that are available. Most technicians will divide the testing into two areas. The first includes black box testing and the second includes white box testing. The difference between these two is related to the approach that is taken towards the testing and allows for the software to be completely compatible after it is finished with the testing.

Beyond this approach towards testing the different types of software, are specific sets of tests that will take place within the box tests. This will include the ability to test the function of the software, combined with the engineering that is used. There will also be specifics to test the relationship of the design and architecture with the software to make sure that everything is compatible. There will also be specific tests that are linked to the software that will be based around the overall functionality in different areas, such as with the computer language that is being used. By moving into the details with these, one is able to completely test the different areas and find any possible bugs.

In order to move into these different types of software testing areas, specific methodologies have to be used. Typically, this will be a set of steps that will need to be followed by software testers in order to find potential problems. Depending on the type of technique that is being used, this will allow the testers to be able to find all of the details that are in the problems by following the specific methods and steps.

With this, most software testing will move a step further. If there is a potential bug or problem, than more methods and techniques will be applied to figure out what the exact problem is and to troubleshoot the problem. This may be done by moving the problem to a different department or by finding the exact glitch that needs to be fixed. This will also be done through a set of techniques, combined with tools that will be used in order to ensure that the testing is being done correctly.

When software testing is done, the ability to follow specific types of testing, as well as step by step guides is what allows for specific bugs to be found and allows for the software to be completely cared for. The different software testing techniques that are used is one that provides for all of the problems and glitches to be completely resolved and to have new options presented in order to make sure that the software is able to be fixed.




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For most, testing simply means taking all of the bugs and problems out of a specific piece of technology. However, for those that know technology, they also know that there is much more that is involved in making sure that a piece of software works correctly. The software testing techniques that are used in order to make the most of software is one that will allow for a computer, system or gadget to completely function on several levels. Understanding these techniques is one that will allow any technician to further step into the capability to completely test software.

When you are beginning to test, you will begin by learning about the different types of testing that are available. Most technicians will divide the testing into two areas. The first includes black box testing and the second includes white box testing. The difference between these two is related to the approach that is taken towards the testing and allows for the software to be completely compatible after it is finished with the testing.

Beyond this approach towards testing the different types of software, are specific sets of tests that will take place within the box tests. This will include the ability to test the function of the software, combined with the engineering that is used. There will also be specifics to test the relationship of the design and architecture with the software to make sure that everything is compatible. There will also be specific tests that are linked to the software that will be based around the overall functionality in different areas, such as with the computer language that is being used. By moving into the details with these, one is able to completely test the different areas and find any possible bugs.

In order to move into these different types of software testing areas, specific methodologies have to be used. Typically, this will be a set of steps that will need to be followed by software testers in order to find potential problems. Depending on the type of technique that is being used, this will allow the testers to be able to find all of the details that are in the problems by following the specific methods and steps.

With this, most software testing will move a step further. If there is a potential bug or problem, than more methods and techniques will be applied to figure out what the exact problem is and to troubleshoot the problem. This may be done by moving the problem to a different department or by finding the exact glitch that needs to be fixed. This will also be done through a set of techniques, combined with tools that will be used in order to ensure that the testing is being done correctly.

When software testing is done, the ability to follow specific types of testing, as well as step by step guides is what allows for specific bugs to be found and allows for the software to be completely cared for. The different software testing techniques that are used is one that provides for all of the problems and glitches to be completely resolved and to have new options presented in order to make sure that the software is able to be fixed.


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In software development, testing is a crucial part of the whole process. Many software engineers have considered interface testing as one of the most important tests they have to conduct in order to guarantee the quality of their products.

There are many kinds of software testing, but generally, they can be classified into automated and manual. Engineers appreciate automated testing, as such helps them save time. With this option, they would not have to go through a manual quality assurance procedure. Likewise, automated testing is widely used nowadays by software engineers.

But there is a problem though with automated testing. This is because a prior manual test is needed for software automation. The said manual testing should be in unison to a systematized testing procedure. Take note that special software should be utilized to automate the system, too. The software is intended to control test implementations, to prepare test requirements, and to assess actual results against the predicted outcome.

Despite the benefits of automated testing, software engineers understand that manual testing is something that cannot be avoided, especially in complex projects. According to them, the software interface test is an example of a testing type that cannot be automated a full 100 percent.

You might wonder what an interface is. It is actually the interface that makes it possible for an individual to communicate with computer hardware. The interface is also referred to as software. It is made up of commands, messages, features, and images that permit communication to flow between the device and end user.

Software companies normally adopt interface tests. This is because such type of testing is the best way to ensure that buyers of their software products will be guaranteed high quality. But you might ask why opting the interface test is considered a good strategy for software businesses. The reason for this is feedback. With this type of testing, software developers are allowed to introduce revisions through an application. They may note feedback issued by users, which could help improve their software product. What happens here is that users are given a task. The flow of the software program is being assessed during the testing process. The aim is to find out whether the flow goes hand in hand with the manner that the user navigates within the program. Likewise, interface test evaluates the impact of the application to users, especially on how easy or difficult they find the program. Meanwhile, a moderator is assigned to conduct the test. He or she needs to only record the feedback of the user regarding the software application. After the whole testing process, the moderator is bound to give the comments of the user to the software developer so revisions can then be incorporated into the application.

As earlier mentioned, there are still several kinds of software testing that developers can use other than interface testing. Some of these are namely system, component, release, and acceptance. For the part of software businesses, the important thing to remember is the choice of software testing they wish to adopt. Quality should be of utmost concern here. Remember that the fewer problems that end users encounter in using your software application, the better it is for the company.



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Some of the major potential limitations of manual software testing are the following: (1) it is costly in addition to being slow, (2) it does not scale well, (3) it is not repeatable and consistent, (4) lack of training negatively impacts manual tests, and (5) it is hard to manage.

One best practice is to be systematic and meticulous in designing and documenting tests. There should be concurrence among the project and product developers, managers, testers, and business staff on test coverage. One can document this as requirements in a test plan. As a result, management is enabled to have control of the coverage of the test and is ensured that the correct areas are tested. This becomes a vital management tool when managing software testing, peer-review test cases, and test requirements, similar to the review of software designs. The staff involved in software development as well as the test staff must cooperate in developing the test designs, since they have matching knowledge bases and skill sets.

Like many other processes, there are many factors that affect the effectiveness of manual testing. These include documentation thoroughness and test case completeness. Your goal is to optimize the management's comprehension of the manual testing by allocating the proper resources in every area, of course, considering the overall resource limitations. If you fail to document the tests, then expect that you will have a poor understanding of the coverage of the test or the quality of the software as shown by the tests. In addition, there is no way that you will determine that the testers are testing features considered as the most important to the customers and the development team. However, documenting everything associated with every test case, expect that you cannot perform many tests as you should. What's more, documenting everything will be very costly.

You should manage test activities very well. Make sure that you have sufficient resources for your project. Also, make sure that you have sufficient time allotted to testing to avoid further hassle. Furthermore, you need to rank cases in terms of importance, risk, frequency of the usage of the feature tested, impact on quality, and other related metrics. One of the major goals is to run all essential test cases. When you encounter resource pitfalls that hinder the running of test cases, the ranking will allow all the crucial test cases to run. In manual testing, testers always have problems with time. A signoff or an agreement procedure on test coverage and ranking is highly recommended.

You should invest on testing by allocating sufficient budget to it, and ensure it is funded well. Monitor the cost of testing and watch the return on investment.

You can always go for automation testing if it is time-efficient and cost-effective. One of the major benefits of automation is the ease of testing, as it is not burdensome. Automation also makes testing much easier to manage.

To summarize, the following are the best practice recommendations for manual software testing to be successful: be systematic in designing and documenting tests, automate turnkey tests, manage tests well, rank test cases, and invest on testing.



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The fact that a software tester is a most infamous person in a software project team has some grounds underneath it. This is because a software tester usually speaks of the bugs in the developer’s code. For a developer to take this pin-pointing personally hurting is humane. The tussle between the testers and developers may lead to failure or delay of the software project. This article presents some of the aspects which both the developer and the tester should know about each other and work harmoniously in a team.

The developer should understand that testing is an important activity in a software project and the role of the tester is to find as many bugs as possible at the earliest and ensure that they get fixed. If the developed software satisfies customer’s requirements and has little number of known bugs then only the customer will accept the software. So, pin-pointing by tester should be taken by the developer in a positive sense. It is the duty of the tester to find bugs and by doing this he is, infact, suggesting you to remove bugs and thereby, dress your code in a proper way.

At the same time, the tester should not directly blame the developer for the buggy code. Psychologically, this will unrest the developer and may lower his efficiency. Instead, a tester should report a bug in a gentle way. The tester should not only report bugs but at times, he should praise the developer for the good code written by him.

As the software are becoming complex, testing is becoming an integral and a methodological process. Lots of theories and practices of testing are becoming standards.
And companies are even spending lot of time and money on deciding terminologies of testing like some companies prefer saying a bug as ‘anomaly’ or ‘incident’ rather than ‘fault’, ’bug’ or ‘error’.

A good tester will have the knowledge of coding language used in the project. In this way, he can sometimes read the buggy code and identify the exact bug along-with and may even propose a solution.

Before reporting a bug, it is important for a tester to know if his test procedure was correct. It happens many times that the bug reported was the result of wrong testing .

So, if you are a software tester then understand the psychology of a developer, appreciate him at times and if you know coding then help him to debug and improve the code. This way you will have good fame in your project team rather than as a dreaded person.

Syed Feroz Zainvi has obtained M.Tech. (Comp Sc & Engg) degree from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (INDIA). His areas of interests are distributed computing, computer graphics and Internet Technologies. Currently, he is involved in Software Project Planning, Development and Management. His other interests include writing for magazines and contributing utility softwares on Magazine's CDs. He also have flair for teaching computer science with new teaching methodologies.



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This article explains about online testing software. To start with, we must clarify what software testing is all about. Programmers create computer software, but it's in our very nature to make mistakes, therefore, regardless of the scope of the project - big or small, the developer must always perform certain test to make sure the software works correctly.

Essentially, software testing is a process designed to prove that a given application is bug-free and to establish that the software performs its functions correctly. Of course, the job of the software tester is to discover bugs before a user does, so in that sense, a good tester is the who is successful in crashing a system, or in causing it to perform in some way that is counter to the specification.

The mentality of the tester must be a destructive one, which is totally different to the attitude of the programmer who acts as a creator. In this chain of thoughts, it's evident that a tester and a programmer are not the same person and should never be. As in other aspects of live, it's easier for someone standing on the sidelines to spot a problem, rather than the person who has created the given project, whatever it may be. Programming is a constructive activity, and it's almost impossible to suddenly divert this task.

With the advent of the Internet, nowadays it's not strange to talk about online software testing. But what do we mean by that? Testing online software mostly emphasizes on making sure that a web-based application doesn't security flaws. Here is how Bear Stearns defined the problem for Internet Security magazine, issue June 2001: "One of the biggest vulnerabilities of a corporation's network is the widespread access to its applications. To date, Internet security solutions have not been designed to handle perhaps the most crucial part of the transaction - that is, the application and its core data. To address the new requirements, we believe firms will need to implement vulnerability assessment programs and application security software. We believe that application security is a critical element in network security."

Online software has many forms - an informational website, an e-commerce website, a search engine, a transaction engine, an e-business. Regardless of the exact kind, all these applications are connected to a server. The most alarming fact is that hackers are attacking Web applications inside the corporate firewall, enabling them to access and sabotage corporate and customer data.



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