Better Software Magazine Archive:

Mar/April 2000

IN THIS ISSUE

Twenty Years Ago
By Steven M. Smith

In comparing himself today to his younger self, Steve Smith says, "I've changed. The work that interests me wouldn't interest Young Steve. Although Young Steve would outdo me technically, I could compete in that arena: Young Steve couldn't compete with me in my new mission."

Software Tester Certification Options
By Alyn Wambeke

Increased demand for test expertise has generated interest in testing-specific professional certifications. Alyn Wambeke sorts through certification options for testers.

A Look at Network Testing with NIST Net
By Gene Sally

Gene Sally looks at network testing with NIST Net. He concludes that NIST Net is a powerful tool, allowing you to emulate network conditions seldom occurring in your lab but nonetheless prevalent in the real world. You can reproduce the conditions in which your application fails, easing diagnosis and repair.

Perspectives from a New Software Tester
By Pam Hardy

Pam Hardy's goal in this article is to relay her experience as a new tester, in the hope that some of her perspectives will help other new testers navigate the waters of their new vocation.

Not a Game of Random() Chance
By Matthew Schmid

Online gaming poses a myriad of security risks. These hazards include various forms of player cheating and the possibility of unfair gaming software, in addition to the risks normally associated with any e-commerce business. Matthew Schmid describes a specific design flaw in an online poker game.

Measuring Up
By Brian Lawrence

You measure because you want to make better-informed decisions. But even simple, harmless-looking measures can be dangerous. For example, they can give you a nice, clear picture of an illusion. Do you want to base your decisions on illusions? Technical Editor Brian Lawrence advises that, before you dive into measuring anything, ask yourself, "Will measuring do more harm than good?"

Book Review: Mastering the Requirements Process
By Brian Lawrence

Brian Lawrence points to Mastering the Requirements Process as a valuable reference book. The book presents a complete step-by-step method for gathering, modeling, and specifying requirements. Along the way the authors offer easy-to-understand and appropriate examples that nicely illustrate how to apply their techniques.

Case Study: Selling the CMM
By J. James Jacobsen

Envision a slow day, a slow meeting, and someone says in a nonchalant manner something like, "Raise your hand if you want to do a CMM." Only two hands go up—but it makes a difference whose hands. From this casual setting develops an all-out effort involving hundreds of people in training, implementing, and integrating the CMM into the development culture. Here is the story of how one large financial services company mobilized for its CMM initiative.

Effective Test Status Reporting
By Rex Black

The way you report test status can impact both real and perceived effectiveness. Here's how to master the upward and outward management of communicating test progress and results.

In Search of Defect Tracking Systems
By Bob Johnson

Defect tracking systems influence business-critical decisions. Building and installing a corporate-wide defect tracking system takes a small but well-balanced development team. Your implementation may be as simple as opening the package and typing "setup" or it may take months of programming. Here's how to find and implement the right system for your organization.

The Influential Test Manager: How to Develop and Use Influence to Help Your Test Group - and Project - Succeed
By Johanna Rothman

Test managers often feel that while somebody might be in control of schedules or resources, they certainly are not. An experienced test manager shares ways to develop and use professional influence to help the test group.

Cem Kaner on Rethinking Software Metrics
By Cem Kaner

The theory underlying a measurement must take into account at least nine factors. This article defines these nine factors (e.g., the scope of the measurement, the scale of the instrument, and the variation of measurements made with the instrument) and applies them to a few examples.

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