Would You Like to Test Software Products?

Would You Like to Test Software Products?

If one cannot differentiate defects from features how can one be good at testing?? If there is poor product’s specification and documentation it is hardly possible to tell the difference between features and defects. But what about testing process? Can it be carried out under such conditions? If there are subtle symptoms of a failure that neither manual, nor automated effort can be useful to catch them, does not testing appear to be a waste of time??

Assume that you are aware of the following work description and it would be interesting to know whether or not you’d apply for it:

Software testing specialist wanted. Job requires checking an incredible complicated, ill-documented app against an appallingly incomplete or nonexistent product specification. Original developers will not be very useful for you as they provide only little help and with reluctance. Software will be run in environments that differ a lot with a multitude of users, multitude of languages, multitude of platforms, and other requirements that are not known yet but matter. One cannot be 100% sure how to determine them, but performance and security are high priority, and post release defects should be predicted as they are unacceptable and could make us quit business.

Are you eager to save on resources, time and money in the course of software development?? If yes, you need to consider outsourcing testing to offshore companies for quality assurance.

Well, it is just mischievous but quite close to the mark that one can lay a bet anybody who has been a long time in the industry can duly appreciate the precision of this job description. If you are lucky enough to regard this foreign concept you should receive sincere congratulations on the occasion.

Software is a complex product so that to be easily verifiable against deficient expectations for vague quality concerns. Actually, if there is no good information available, testing becomes a more difficult task than it must be, and all testers feel depressed because of this. Nevertheless, software products have been tested for several decades, and despite the bugs found in them all the time they still managed to change the world. It is obvious that we have firm grasp of testing.

Well, what do software testers typically do when they are going to resolve this task?? As a rule, the first thing to do is to determine the complexity and enormity of testing.  

If testing is approached without seriousness and is regarded as an easy task, it is sure to be accomplished unsuccessfully. But acknowledging that no matter what is done cannot be adequate is already the right starting attitude.