NVP Software Solutions

Tag: Quality Control

  • Quality Assurance for Downloaded Software

    Downloading software is trivially easy these days. “There is an App for almost everything and downloading then only usually requires selecting them and agreeing to a few conditions. We fully realise that there have been many, many, articles on the dangers of accepting all the conditions and the sort of access that it gives to your phone or computer. However, we are more concerned here with the Quality of the Application regardless of how much it requires access to things you would rather keep private. The first step is in the testing that the App stores carry out before agreeing to include the App in the store. However, we are still concerned about whether the App actually does what it is supposed to before you trust it to help you in some way. The only real way to to prove that is to carry out proper Quality Assurance and Quality Control before you download the code. We know how difficult that is and there is not really any access for you to check short of installing it and hoping for the best in your particular software and hardware configuration.

    There is an open question surrounding how to test that the App actually does what it is supposed to or what it is advertised to do. This needs to be checked either by the vendor or by independent testers.

    Take a look at some of the seminars that we offer that address this situation and see if they apply to your situation. Considering the Quality Assurance and testing aspects early can save you a lot of effort, time and funds later on.

    Contact us for further information.

  • Debugging versus Scenario Testing

    Recently someone in a class asked about the difference between debugging and scenario testing given the fact that many errors that need to be fixed must be completed in the code.

    If we make the assumption that we are doing a calculation of some sort or running an algorithm then the following applies.

    During User Acceptance Testing – the test should work end-to-end without an error in actual execution. The appearance, formatting or placement of the result may be incorrect but there should be no problems in running the actual process. This applies to normal cases. Clearly there is a possibility of issues with the unique cases that may have been identified late in the process. If the algorithm or test case does not run or cannot be completed then we are probably debugging rather than scenario testing.

    During System Testing – the calculation should complete although the result may be wrong and one or more steps along the way may provide incorrect results. So the results should be available and the algorithm complete although the results may be wrong. System Testing is aimed at Requirements so this is where we should whether the results agree with the requirements. If the individual test cases do not run or cannot be completed then we are probably debugging rather than scenario testing.

    During Integration Testing – each individual piece (validation of a piece of the overall algorithm) should run but they may not be able to work together. If the individual pieces do not work, then we are debugging. If they cannot be run as an integrated whole, then we are testing.

    During Unit Testing – we are debugging each individual piece of the algorithm. This is code debugging and is not expected to be anything else.

    Contact us to see whether you are scenario testing of debugging.

    Diagram by Veronica

  • Quality Assurance for Packaged Software

    There has been a large change in the last decade in how software is built and used. With the ability for anyone to build an app and market it, many organisations have realised that it is ‘easier to buy than build’. There are unique applications that are still being built (many of them) but for regular business functions and even some unique business functions it is often better and more effective to buy. A lot more functionality is available in the purchased package than could be built internally for the same cost.

    However the end result of this is that the Quality Assurance and testing aspects are frequently overlooked because they should have been taken care of by the vendor. However, most EULAs do not provide any assurance that the product works or provides valid results or information. Usually they state the opposite, there is absolutely no promise made of any ability to rely on the results. Thus you are on your own for the Quality Assurance (‘QA cannot be outsourced’).

    What tends to be overlooked in the rush to acquire the package is that considerations for QA need to be made at the time the purchase is being considered. They become part of the contract or requirements to ensure that the package is most of the way to fulfilling our needs before it arrives on site. We don’t want to be in the position of trying to change a package after it has already been purchased.

    Take a look at some of the seminars that we offer that address this situation and see if they apply to your situation. Considering the Quality Assurance and testing aspects early can save you a lot of effort, time and funds later on.

    Contact us for further information.

  • Upcoming Events – January and February 2018

     

    NVP Software Solutions will be participating in the following software testing and quality assurance events happening this January in Ontario, Canada. The events are located in Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo and London in the coming two weeks. Check out the relevant websites for more information and to register. This is a great opportunity to connect with other software testing and quality assurance professionals. We hope to see you there! (more…)

  • Toronto based Courses for February 2018

    The following courses are being offered in Toronto in February 2018.

    1. Test Leadership
    2. Manager’s Test Planning
    3. Boot Camp for Testers

    Courses will be repeated in April and October of 2018.

    Registration is available at nvp.ca/training

  • Selecting Software to run your business

    We recently spoke to a municipality about their current IT practices and came away with several interesting pieces of information that point to the probable future of a lot of the software industry. (more…)

  • Still time to Enrol for Fall 2017

    Enrolment for Fall 2017 courses on the following topics is still open:

    1. Test Leadership
    2. Manager’s Test Planning
    3. Effective Software Testing
    4. Boot Camp for Testers
    5. CSTE Certification Training
    6. CSQA Certification Training
    7. CAST Certification Training
    8. Other courses on request

    Courses are continuing from September to November of 2017.

    Take your opportunity to get training created by experts in the field. Make 2018 your best Quality Assurance year by being prepared and ready for whatever might come your way in terms of Software Testing or Quality Assurance. Waiting to next year puts you behind when a problem does occur.

    Quality Assurance is not just a solution to a technical software problem. It is a consideration for the entire business. Software Quality Assurance failures impact the entire business and can lead to large problems if not addressed.

    Training testers using NVP supplied courses provides testers with the techniques, tools, and knowledge to select the best method for testing – not the one that has been used for the last 15 years that’s falling short!

    When you work with an experienced software testing trainer you benefit by:

    • Creating more valuable employees that pays back more than investments
      in any test tool!
    • Getting real value from testing
    • Enhancing speed, accuracy and results from your testing processes
    • Seeing larger profits

    Quality assurance training is a great way to help ensure your systems are working for you while supporting and contributing to the growth of your company.

    Let us know if we can help!

  • So you want to be a software test automator?

    So you want to be a software test automator and don’t know how to start.

    There are plenty of ways to become a software test automator and we’ve talked to a number of people curious about how to break into the field. If you ask current test automators what their background is here are some answers you may get: (more…)