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From: dsl@lzaz.UUCP (D.S.LERNER)
Newsgroups: net.wanted
Subject: Re: Automated Software Testing
Message-ID: <470@lzaz.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 7-Jan-86 14:13:30 EST
Article-I.D.: lzaz.470
Posted: Tue Jan  7 14:13:30 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 8-Jan-86 09:04:00 EST
References: <333@muddcs.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems, Lincroft
Lines: 52
Summary: Yes, there is a good book on software testing called "The Complete Guide to Software Testing" by william Hetzel. Also, there is an automated testing tool called TPNS from IBM.

In article <333@muddcs.UUCP>, jking@muddcs.UUCP (John King) writes:
> 
>      I am looking for information on the software testing process.  Of 
> particular interest to me are:
> 
>      - Currently existing automated software testing tools.
>      - Books on software testing.
>      - Ideas about the testing process, it's relationship to the 
>        software life cycle, and what parts of it can be automated.
>      - The possiblity of a net.testing group for discussions of this 
>        very important part of the computer world.
> 
> Thanks in advance for any info.
> 
> -- John King
>   

Like I said, the book by William Hetzel, The Complete Guide to
Software Testing is a good start to learn about quality assurance
methods. I have been in this field now for over four years. It
is a new and exciting part of the computer industry. I currently
test a large telecommunication project for AT&T Information Systems.
The automation tool TPNS, an IBM network simulator, is handy for
testing a sample action/response format on multiple stations.
Testing is a subject that many people do not know about. Yet,
it is a proven fact that bugs in software cost many time as much
to fix in the field installation phase as in the development phase.
Unfortunately, testing is not taught at most colleges nor encouraged
in most development areas of business. You might want to consider
taking a course entitled "Testing Computer Software". It is a
vendor course given around the country by DPMA Education Foundation.
Its instructors, David Gelperin and Bill Hetzel are very, very
knowledgable. There is also a Testing Manager's Workshop which is
a very intense workshop for experienced testers. Dr. Gelperin is
the chairman of a task group that developed ANSI/IEEE standards
for software test documentation.
Finally, testing is in a phase in the computer industry as
programming was twenty years ago. It is just beginning to come
into importance in the industry. Testing is commonly referred as
"quality assurance". You will see ads for QA people in most trade
publications and contracting firms. People with yrs. of experience
and the right background will be in "HIGH" demand in the next
few years. Especially in the year 2000, when everyone's code
will bounce out when the first two digits aren't "19" anymore.
Some people claim it is a boring and uncreative task. I find
it very interesting in that it is like playing detective. You
must find the offendor, or in this case the bad code or wrong
documentation.
	              REMEMBER SOFTWARE ROTS
"Testing is making sure that a program does what it is supposed to do"

David Lerner