Latest Event Updates
Squashing Tenacious Software Bugs
When it comes to software bugs, no two are exactly the same. Some can creep up on you early, while the software is still in alpha or beta; others are reported soon after release by the early adopting community; and still others only reveal themselves with time, after the software has become well-established and unforeseen problems can have a much more powerful impact.
Enduring, tenacious, long-lived bugs can occur for a variety of reasons. Since cursory testing is usually only carried out to ensure that the program works as intended, these normally aren’t caught until well after release.
Long-lived bugs can result from any number of issues. Common complications include memory management issues, memory leaks, and buffer overflows. Read the rest of this entry »
Passing AST in a Connected World
Thanks to the Internet, a data server in Los Angeles can be connected to another server in Adelaide. Thousands of miles of undersea cable make it possible to share data by the petabytes in a swift and efficient manner.
Given that this level of interconnectedness is the modern reality for various industries, software testing standards now require systems to have the ability work on dozens of servers and terminals. To simulate this multi-computer environment, testers typically use more than one computer. Such an environment may sometimes consist of new and old computers. Read the rest of this entry »
When Updates Break Your Software
Nowadays, whether it’s videogames or operating systems you’re talking about, patches and updates have become a fact of life. That’s because software developers want to give the best possible product to consumers, which is why these supplemental updates are released.
Unfortunately, good intentions often go haywire. Usually, patches are made available to increase software stability, add functionalities, or stomp out bugs. In reality, though, the additional code often messes with the existing ones, causing the software to behave erratically. Whereas before, a software boots up and functions flawlessly, users may encounter issues like black screens, frequent crashes, or flat out failure to launch after an update. Read the rest of this entry »
Passing AST: Anywhere, Anytime
Windows and Apple may be the giants of operating systems (OS), but they’re not the only ones in use today. There are hundreds of OS installed on everything, from computer servers to plane cockpits, with only a small portion available for public consumption. This is the rationale behind the second automated software testing (AST) requirement: OS independence.
This isn’t like releasing Windows and Mac versions of various software. One program must be compatible with practically every OS in existence, which isn’t scarce in public software. For example, if Microsoft Word wants to pass AST, it must work on all platforms, not produce an entirely different version from the original. Read the rest of this entry »
Three Epic Software Fails
The software is the soul of all computers, controlling everything from your smartphone, to your alarm clock, and even your car. While these strings of ones and zeroes have made life considerably easier, they do encounter hiccups every now and then. For the most part, they cause only minor, if annoying, issues. In some cases, as you’ll see below, they can bring about major headaches which highlight the need for rigorous software testing:
Radiation Over-Therapy
Due to a software bug, the Therac-25 medical radiation therapy device inadvertently administered massive amounts of radiation to patients—up to 100 times the prescribed dose! As you might expect, many of the patients became even more ill and three of them even perished as a result of this mishap.
Are Ye a Pirate?
Microsoft’s Windows XP is one of the most popular operating systems (OS) in history—and also one of the most pirated. To counter this, they included an anti-piracy tool, called Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA), in the OS. A bug, however, identified thousands of legal copies as pirated versions, much to the chagrin of consumers.
Where’d the Money Go?
In 2012, Knight Capital was almost driven into bankruptcy when a software glitch caused its computers to buy and sell shares on a whim. The result: the company lost half a billion dollars in 30 minutes, and its stock price plummeted by about 75% in 48 hours.
Make Sure Your Software Meets these QA Needs
When it comes to quality assurance, computer programs must meet certain parameters as defined by reputable governing bodies like the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). For this reason, software developers need to use reliable QA testing tools that allow them to identify and fix software problems from the get-go. Effective QA testing not only yields a product that not only satisfies clients’ needs but also minimizes the need for software patches in the future.
Efficiency is one factor that all kinds of software should meet. An inefficient program, after all, consumes more time and resources to perform its intended function. Software developers ensure the efficiency of each program by streamlining its coding or by removing bits of redundant code. An efficient program is also likely to satisfy the need for portability since it can be migrated from one system to another without much difficulty.
Usability, on the other hand, focuses on aesthetic value rather than functionality. Simply put, a program should have an easy-to-use interface that is accessible to beginners and advanced users alike. In a way, usability is also related to the program’s testability since a user-friendly software should be easy to test for bugs and oversights—preferably without having to access the program using its root language.
Testing: An Integral Part of Software Development
Software programs help organizations complete tasks in an efficient manner. At times, small businesses can function without these tools, relying instead on basic computer programs like Microsoft Excel for their bookkeeping and payroll. However, a business primed for expansion will have to depend on a software development company for solutions to their ever-growing needs. Read the rest of this entry »
The Benefits of Using Automated QA Testing Tools
Would you buy an app that has a reputation for being buggy? Of course not, right?
The quick example above stresses the importance of having quality products. Although you can easily hire a team of employees to test the quality of your software, there are other more efficient ways to do so. Automating several QA tests is one such way. Automating quality assessment merits the following benefits: Read the rest of this entry »
Manual and Automated Software Testing
Before using software in actual operation, it has to be properly tested. Once integrated into the operating system, some of the damage created by any unchecked glitch in the software may no longer be reversed. Software testing is crucial not only in improving production efficiency, but also in providing a sustainable and long-term system operation for businesses. Read the rest of this entry »
Essential Elements of Software Testing
Software testing is an important aspect of developing and implementing programs, particularly when it comes to assessing their functionality before they can be launched. To conduct a successful test, there are quite a few essential components that testing facilities should never dispense with.
- ← Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- Next →
Automated Software Testing Resources 