Perfect Software--and Other Illusions about Testing

Everyone has a role to play in software testing -- even people outside a project team. Testers, developers, managers, customers, and users shape the process and results of testing, often unwittingly. Rather than continue to generate stacks of documents and fuel animosity, testers can cultivate rich opportunities and relationships by integrating an effective testing mentality into any process. Gerald Weinberg, author of The Psychology of Computer Programming and more than forty nonfiction books, sets out to disprove destructive notions about testing and testers in Perfect Software: And Other Illusions About Testing. With a blend of wit, storytelling, and jaw-dropping insight that has won him fans around the world, Weinberg deftly separates what is expected, significant, and possible in software testing. He destroys fallacies and steers readers clear of common mistakes. We test because people are not perfect, and simply testing "more" does not guarantee better quality. This book guides test strategy development that's scalable for any project. Topics include: * Why Not Just Test Everything? * Information Immunity * What Makes a Test "Good"? * Major Fallacies About Testing * Determining Significance * Testing Without Machinery * and much more