Software testing services: A must for Development Cycle   by Nitesh Patel

SOFTWARE TESTING is one of the important tasks in the software development life cycle. the main motif of the software testing is to find out the fault in developed software i.e executing a program intended to find out the error. The definition of testing according to the ANSI/IEEE 1059 standard is that testing is the process of analyzing a software item to detect the differences between existing and required conditions (that is defects/errors/bugs) and to evaluate the features of the software item.

Software testing is categories in three types( on the basis of the team)

· ALPHA TESTING- this type of testing is performed by the developer itself.

· BETA TESTING- In this testing is performed by the other member of same testing team

· GAMMA TESTING- This type of testing is performed by the customer who is willing to buy the software.

Software testing can be performed in two ways -:

1- Unit Testing - in this type of testing each module of the developed system is tested independently

2- Integration testing â?? In this, testing is performed as whole. Integration testing is dvided in three sub categories:

a- Top down testing- In top down testing the the module is validated initially from the previous developed model

b- Bottom up testing- in this testing model, the testing is performed from final stage of product development to initial stage

c- Mixed testing- At some stage top to down testing is performed and at some stage bottom up testing is performed.

Driver Stub model: There comes a concept of driver- stub model in the integration testing we can describe both of them as follows

Stub: In top down approach, a core module is developed. To test that core module, small dummy modules are used. So stubs are small dummy modules that test the core module.

Driver: In bottom up approach, small modules are developed. To test them a dummy core module Is called driver.

We are enumerating some points what you need to check when looking for a software testing services. Testing strategies -:

1- Black box testing- when the testing is performed to check only the functional error then it is known as Black box testing

2- White box Testing- when testing is performed to check the structural error or fault in the developed system then it is known as white box testing.

Purpose of testing broadly can be categories in two types:-

1- Validation: Validation is a Quality assurance process of establishing evidence that provides a high degree of assurance that a product, service, or system accomplishes its intended requirements.

2- Verification: Verification is a Quality control process that is used to evaluate whether or not a product, service, or system complies with regulations, specifications, or conditions imposed at the start of a development phase.