Topic: Gray Box Testing Advantages and Disadvantages

Message

   Advantages

Offers Combined Benefits – Leverage strengths of both Black Box and White Box testing wherever possible.

Non Intrusive –
Gray Box does not rely on access to source code or binaries.  Instead,
based on interface definition, functional specifications, and
application architecture.

Intelligent Test Authoring
– Based on the limited information available, a Gray Box tester can
author intelligent test scenarios, especially around data type
handling, communication protocols and exception handling.

Unbiased Testing –
The demarcation between testers and developer is still maintained.  The
handoff is only around interface definitions and documentation without
access to source code or binaries.

Disadvantages

Partial Code Coverage –
Since the source code or binaries are not available, the ability to
traverse code paths is still limited by the tests deduced through
available information.  The coverage depends on the tester authoring
skills.

Defect Identification
– Inherent to distributed application is the difficult associated in
defect identification.   Gray Box testing is still at the mercy of how
well systems throw exceptions and how well are these exceptions
propagated with a distributed Web Services environment.

Author	Message
tanushree Senior Member Joined: 04Apr2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2160	Topic: Gray Box Testing Advantages and Disadvantages Posted: 11Oct2007 at 12:28am
	Advantages Offers Combined Benefits – Leverage strengths of both Black Box and White Box testing wherever possible. Non Intrusive – Gray Box does not rely on access to source code or binaries. Instead, based on interface definition, functional specifications, and application architecture. Intelligent Test Authoring – Based on the limited information available, a Gray Box tester can author intelligent test scenarios, especially around data type handling, communication protocols and exception handling. Unbiased Testing – The demarcation between testers and developer is still maintained. The handoff is only around interface definitions and documentation without access to source code or binaries. Disadvantages Partial Code Coverage – Since the source code or binaries are not available, the ability to traverse code paths is still limited by the tests deduced through available information. The coverage depends on the tester authoring skills. Defect Identification – Inherent to distributed application is the difficult associated in defect identification. Gray Box testing is still at the mercy of how well systems throw exceptions and how well are these exceptions propagated with a distributed Web Services environment. Post Resume: Click here to Upload your Resume & Apply for Jobs

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