Test execution automation is often seen as a technical challenge-a matter of applying the right technology, tools, and smart programming talent. However, such efforts and projects often fail to meet expectations with results that are difficult to manage and maintain-especially for large and complex systems. Hans Buwalda describes how the choices you make for designing tests can make-or break-a test automation project. Join Hans to discover why good automated tests are not the same as the automation of good manual tests and how to break down tests into modules-building blocks-in which each has a clear scope and purpose. See how to design test cases within each module to reflect that module's scope and nothing more. Hans explains how to tie modules together with a keyword-based test automation framework that separates the automation details from the test itself to enhance maintainability and improve ROI.

Cloud computing is here to stay-and it is changing the way we test software. Cloud-based testing offers flexible, scalable, and on-demand infrastructure services. And as a bonus, because the cloud offers pay-per-use purchasing options, cloud-based testing usually costs less. Tauhida Parveen describes the concept of cloud-based testing: scope, specific requirements, benefits, and drawbacks. She explains how cloud-based testing brings new capabilities and options for your testing activities-instantly creating and dismantling test environments and miming production environments in early testing. Tauhida discusses how to engineer scalable environments for load, stress, and performance testing. Then, she introduces cloud-based compatibility, cross-browser, and cross-platform testing opportunities you can exploit.

Big Data systems-those in which data sets grow so large that they become awkward to work with using traditional tools-are a huge problem for testers. To address the Big Data problem, testers must throw the traditional approach of creating and executing fixed test cases out the window. Ken Johnston and Reena Agarwal share how testing is changing and adapting within Microsoft on the Bing search platform and elsewhere. There, they are implementing sophisticated analysis techniques to validate system output and measure data quality. Join this leading edge session to learn what Big Data is all about and the technologies driving these new systems. Explore examples from different industries-including Big Data testing within Microsoft and Bing-and explore the new skills you and your team will need to test in the era of Big Data.

With the proliferation of mobile devices, cloud computing, and client-side scripting-coupled with web services-how do you guarantee adequate code coverage for your applications? Basic tests inadequately cover many of these technologies, leading to defects and disappointing user experiences. Michael Portwood describes the importance of unit test coverage and then presents techniques, tips, and tricks to simplify the process of achieving more complete coverage for Internet-enabled solutions. Michael shares tips for automation and techniques for testing both client- and server-side scripting. Gain insight into identifying code requiring complex testing techniques and explore ideas for covering them. Michael describes complex testing situations-like those found in multi-threaded and distributed code-where test coverage alone may provide misleading results.