Smoke testing is a term used in http://www.answers.com/topic/plumbing - plumbing , http://www.answers.com/topic/woodwind - woodwind repair, http://www.answers.com/topic/electronics - electronics , and http://www.answers.com/topic/computer-software - computer software development. It refers to the first test made after repairs or first assembly to provide some assurance that system under test will not catastrophically fail. After a smoke test proves that the pipes will not leak, the keys seal properly, the circuit will not burn, or the software will not crash outright, the assembly is ready for more stressful testing.

• In http://www.answers.com/topic/plumbing - plumbing , a smoke test forces actual smoke through newly plumbed pipes to find leaks, before water is allowed to flow through the pipes.

• In http://www.answers.com/topic/woodwind - woodwind instrument repair, a smoke test involves plugging one end of an instrument and blowing smoke into the other to test for leaks. (This test is no longer in common use)

• In http://www.answers.com/topic/electronics - electronics , a smoke testing is the first time a circuit is attached to power, which will sometimes produce actual smoke if a design or wiring mistake has been made.

• In http://www.answers.com/topic/programming - computer programming and http://www.answers.com/topic/software-testing - software testing , smoke testing is a preliminary to further testing, which should reveal simple failures severe enough to reject a prospective software release. In this case, the smoke is metaphorical.