Topic: Test Development Architecture

Test Development Architecture

Test team members responsible for test development need to be prepared with the proper materials. Test team personnel need to follow a test development architecture that includes, for example, a listing of the test procedures assigned to them and a listing of the outcome of automated versus manual test analysis. Also, test team personnel need to decide when to automate. At times a test team might want to avoid automating using a GUI testing tool before the interface—whether API, character UI, or GUI—is stabilized, to avoid having to reengineer the automated tests in response to non–bug-related changes. At other times, the test team might find workaround solutions when automating an unstable GUI, such as focusing automation on the known stable parts only.The test engineer needs to adhere to the test procedure development and execution schedule, test design information, automated test tool user manuals, and test procedure development guidelines. Armed with the proper instructions, documentation, and guidelines, test engineers will have the foundation that allows them to develop a more cohesive and structured set of test procedures. Repeating a process and repeatedly demonstrating a strong test program depends on the availability of documented processes and standard guidelines such as the test development architecture.Test development starts with test environment setup and preparation activities, discussed earlier. Once they’re concluded, the test team needs to make sure that all pertinent information necessary to support development has been documented or gathered. The test team will need to tailor the sample test development architecture in Figure 2 to reflect the priorities of their particular project.

Edited by moderator - 17May2008 at 12:02am