Better Software Magazine Articles

So, You've Got a Problem: Crafting Remarks and Abstracts for Defect Reports

Software defect reports are among the most important deliverables to come out of software testing. They are as important as the test plan and will have more impact on the quality of the product than most other deliverables from the software test team. It's worth the effort to learn how to write an effective defect report that conveys the proper message and simplifies the process for everyone.
Kelly Whitmill
August 28, 2008
Stop The Insanity! Using Root Cause Analysis to Avoid Repeating Your Mistakes

We've all heard Einstein's definition of insanity, and it definitely holds true in software development. We "are" going to make mistakes in product development, but root-cause analysis can help us understand those mistakes and be proactive in not repeating them.
Ed Weller's picture Ed Weller
May 30, 2008
What's the Buzz

Need information but don’t have time to wade through bookracks looking for that perfect reference? The StickyMinds.com Books Guide can help. Get the scoop from StickyMinds.com members on three books that can keep you up to date on the latest issues.
StickyMinds Editorial's picture StickyMinds Editorial
April 14, 2005
Exhausting Your Test Options

In this edition of "Bug Report," Doug Hoffman tells the story of exhaustively testing a 32-bit square root function.
Doug Hoffman
October 1, 2003
Bug Tracking Basics

Effective bug tracking assures that bugs are logged, fixed, and verified by the appropriate personnel. Here's a beginner's guide to this process.
Mitch Allen
July 30, 2002
A Look at Bug Tracking Using Bugzilla

Robert Sievers manages QA on the development of Abi-Word, a cross-platform free-use open source word processor. When it came time to pick a bug tracking system, he looked into Bugzilla, the open source bug tracking system created by mozilla.org, and found that the open source development model worked just as well for QA tools as it does for utilities and applications.
Robert Sievers
June 26, 2002
Defect Management with Soffront TRACK Defects

Margaret Ramsey looks at Defect Management with Soffront's TRACK Defects. She concludes: "If this tool meets your requirements and its pricing isn't out of your ballpark, it's definitely worth considering. With its customizability and ease of use, TRACK Defects is one tool that should be on your evaluation list."
Margaret Ramsey
June 26, 2002
A Look at TeamTrack 3.0, a Web-Based Defect Tracking Tool

George Hamblen and Stephen Bailey look at TeamShare's TeamTrack 3.0, a Web-based defect tracking tool. TeamTrack offers a fully functional defect tracking system over a company intranet. Since all of the functionality is offered from the server, this means each desktop needs only a browser to access the system.
George Hamblen Steve Bailey
June 26, 2002
Tracking Severity: Assessing and Classifying the Impact of Issues (a.k.a. Defects)

How does one categorize Severity? Should you use numbers like 1, 2, 3; generic names like High, Medium, Low; or more specific names? A telephone switching system, for example, might use industry-specific categories such as "system issue," "line issue," or "call issue." Other environments, as we'll see in this article, tailor classification terms to meet their own functional needs.
Tim Dyes
June 26, 2002
Software Measurement Programs

A metrics program is any planned activity in which you use measurement to meet some specific goal. If you do not have a clear technical goal for a metrics program, then you are almost certainly not ready for such a program. Here's how to design a measurement program that leads to decisions and actions.
Norman Fenton
June 26, 2002

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