Automated Software Testing: Introduction, Management, and Performance Review

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(More customer reviews)Reviewed by Erick Griffin, September 4, 1999
When seeing the title of this book for the first time I must admit I was immediately intrigued by its topic, being a member of Tivoli's Test Automation Group and all. Its title promised that between its covers all would be revealed regarding what automation means to software testing. It does in fact deliver on this main theme rather well. Moreover, depending upon your interest in test automation one might not be able to consider all points brought up by this book applicable to their specific area of expertise. It is however, an excellent place to start!
Below is outline of the book and what the reader will find hidden away in its pages.
Chapter 1. The first chapter discusses some of the more mundane aspects of how to define automated software testing. A necessary evil but for those already familiar with this topic you may want to skip this. Chapter 2. Mostly a discussion on the topic of 'why' software testing automation is so necessary today. Most of what the authors cite as to improving partnerships with development teams and improvements in some of the more important issues of testing are all good lessons that should be learned and clearly understood. This chapter also delves into two other important areas, the real benefits of automation and how to get management support for test automation goals. The latter is most important, the how in making management understand what the correct expectation of automated software testing should be is all important before pursuing any automation strategy. Chapters 3 and 4. Here are the 'meat and potato' chapters on how to correctly evaluate and consider test automation tools. This should be read by anyone who is considering the purchase of a tool that would perform any test automation; and gives a good account of all of the tool areas that must be considered, (e.g. source code testing tools, load/performance/stress test tools). A valuable chapter in learning what the Test Life-Cycle Tools are and what they do. Important for anyone wanting to properly weight an insistent salesperson's marketing hype! Chapter 5. Management only, enough said. Chapters 6 through 9. These are the core chapters of the book and should be read by anyone and everyone interested in overall test considerations. They therefore serve as a guide to overall test planning, development and other considerations, always with a slant on automation. Though most will find these chapters full the normal stuff any verification engineer needs to consider. Chapter 10. People responsible for deploying and managing a software test automation project will want to consider reading this chapter. Here is where the benefits are explained, it gives you a good understanding when and where the payoffs are. One of the more tacit points made in this chapter is that automation is not a short term solution to any problem. It is a long term solution and must become an integral way of life in any verification organization. Appendices. These provide information on How to Test Requirements, Tools That Support the Automated Testing Life Cycle pretty good!, Test Engineer Development good for management and your knowing your own skills and where they fit, A Sample Test Plan in case you've never seen one (I would hope this wasn't the case).
This book should be purchased by anyone who is concerned with test automation. It should be used by those development and verification individuals who need to be concerned with automation topics in their areas to help reduce costs and relieve critical resources to accomplish their group's overall product goals. These individuals include but are not limited to:
All second and first line development and verification management who really need to understand how, when and where automation should be done and why! All senior engineers who need to consider test automation during software design and development. Any company wide organizations whose charter it is to develop and deploy automation tools and technologies to their organizations. And last but not least, any other individuals who might stand to gain from learning how automated software testing might improve their understanding of the need to reduce costs and test resources, while increasing the level of test repeatability and reuse in their areas of verification.
Most organizations establish verification groups only after a product has been developed. These groups are therefore usually well behind the eight ball before they even start to consider such topics as test automation. This book could prevent such organizations from making costly mistakes with test processes and automation that most organizations do when starting.
Finally and most importantly it can be used to help define automated software testing in an organization that is already in place. It can help correct its direction towards the necessary amount of automation a group needs. Most of all it can help reduce the resources needed during verification in the long run, which ultimately drive a better product out the door. This is after all what most customers demand from the computer industry today, isn't it?!

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Comprehensive, step-by-step guide to the most effective tools, techniques, and methods for automated testing.Numerous case studies of successful industry implementations are provided. Softcover.CD-ROM included. DLC: Computer software--Testing--Automation.

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