STARWEST 2008 - Software Testing Conference

PRESENTATIONS

Testing AJAX Applications with Open Source Tools

AJAX testers and developers have serious challenges developing unit tests, functional tests, and load/performance tests in a time when AJAX and other Web development technologies continue to expand. Frank Cohen explains a proven methodology to identify-and solve-scalability, performance, and reliability issues in AJAX applications. Frank explains how to apply this methodology using open source testing tools, including Selenium, soapUI, TestGen4Web, PushToTest, and others.
Frank Cohen, PushToTest
Testing Lessons from Springfield-Home of the Simpsons

Over the years, Rob Sabourin has discovered testing lessons in the Looney Tunes gang, the Great Detectives, and Dr. Seuss. Now he turns his attention to the Simpsons, a primetime cartoon television show entertaining audiences since 1989. Rob believes that Matt Groening's popular characters can teach us important lessons about software testing. Homer's twisted ideas tell us about test automation--why it works and why it fails. Could your software stand up to Bart's abuse?
Robert Sabourin, AmiBug.com Inc
Testing Microsoft Office: Experiences you Can Leverage to Drive Quality Upstream

Have you experienced those weeks when the new features being added to builds just flat out don't work? Do you strive to have a testable build throughout the full product development cycle? Are you tired of the mountain of bugs crushing you just before time to ship? Experienced test manager Tara Roth discusses how the Microsoft Office team is working to drive the level of test coverage up during the earlier phases of product development to improve build quality later in development.
Tara Roth, Microsoft Corporation
The Myth of Risk Mangement

Although test managers are tasked with helping manage project risks, risk management practices used on most software projects produce only an illusion of safety. Many software development risks cannot be managed because they are unknown, unquantifiable, uncontrollable, or unmentionable. Rather than planning only for risks that have previously occurred, project and test managers must begin with the assumption that something new will impact their project.
Pete McBreen, Software Craftsmanship Inc
The Power of Specially Gifted Software Testers

Specialisterne ("The Specialists") is a Danish company that employs people with very special capabilities to perform complex and difficult tasks, including software testing, quality control, and data conversion. Their customers are companies such as Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), Microsoft, and leading Danish IT organizations. Their founder and our presenter, Thorkil Sonne, received the IT Award 2008 from the Danish IT Industry Association for the company's ability to find and employ especially talented people in IT.
Thorkil Sonne, Specialisterne
The Savvy Web Tester's Tool Kit

Did you know that you can get many free-or nearly free-tools to supercharge your Web testing efforts? Amazingly, at the click of a button, you can download some very advanced capabilities to make you seem like a testing genius. With a focus on Web application tools, Erik Petersen looks at tools that can help all testers. Erik examines mind mapping and how you can use mind maps for schedules, strategies, even tests themselves.
Erik Petersen, Emprove
The Three Faces of Quality: Control, Assurance, Analysis

Many of the misunderstandings within software development organizations can trace their roots to different interpretations of the role of testers. The terms quality control (QC), quality assurance (QA), and quality analysis are often used interchangeably. However, they are quite different and require different approaches and very different skill sets. Quality control is a measurement of the product at delivery compared to a benchmark standard, at which point the decision is made to ship or reject the product.
Stephen Michaud, Luxoft Canada
Top Ten Non-Technical Skills of the Better Testing

In the era of SOA and Web 2.0, as it becomes more and more difficult to accomplish comprehensive testing, Krishna Iyer and Mukesh Mulchandani describe ten non-technical skills that will make you a better tester. The first five are qualities we often look for in testers yet seldom practice scientifically and diligently--collaboration, creativity, experimentation, passion, and alertness.
Krishna Iyer, ZenTEST Labs
Toward an Exploratory Testing Culture

Traditional testing teams often agonize over exploratory testing. How can they plan and design tests without detailed up-front documentation? Stubborn testers may want to quit because they are being asked to move out of their comfort zone. Can a team’s testing culture be changed? Rob Sabourin describes how several teams have undergone dramatic shifts to embrace exploratory testing. Learn how to blend cognitive thinking skills, subject matter expertise, and “hard earned” experience to help refocus your team and improve your outcomes.
Robert Sabourin, AmiBug.com Inc
Truths and Myths of Static Analysis

Identifying defects with static analysis tools has advanced significantly in the last few years. Yet, there still are many misconceptions about the capabilities and limits of these innovative tools-and sales propaganda such as "100 percent path coverage" has not helped at all. Paul Anderson debunks common myths and clarifies the strengths and limitations of static-analysis technology. You'll learn about the types of defects that these tools can catch and the types they miss.
Paul Anderson, GrammaTech, Inc.

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