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Concurrent Sessions
THURSDAY, MAY 17
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Go to Wednesday's Sessions |
Go to Friday's Sessions |
Topical Tracks–Real World Experiences.
The STAREAST conference program is designed to serve the needs of software testing and quality engineering managers and professionals. At STAR, you’ll learn about the latest strategies, ideas, and techniques being used by leading software organizations. STAR’s unique, real-world approach provides you with the knowledge and practical skills you need to ultimately build and deliver better software.
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| THURSDAY, MAY 17, 10:30 AM Go to 11:30 AM Go to 1:30 PM Go to 2:30 PM | T1 Test Management
The Role of Information in Risk-Based Testing
Bret Pettichord, Satisfice
With risk-based testing, you identify risks and then runs tests to gather more information about them. Formal risk analysis is often necessary for identifying and assessing risks with new domains or technologies. A common problem, however, is how to assess risks when you have little information. Learn how to use testing to identify risks, reach team agreement on risk magnitude, and identify actions which allow these risks to be understood and mitigated.
• How to write an actionable risk statement
• How to use risk-based testing as a supplement to traditional methods
• How to develop a risk catalog |
| T2 Test Techniques
White-Box Testing: What Your Developers Don’t Want You to Know
John Peraza, Bmc Software, Inc.
In this presentation, John Peraza describes how to use white-box testing to discover those defects that would otherwise remain undetected if you only conducted black-box testing. Learn various techniques—including test coverage, run-time memory leak detection, dynamic bounds checking, and code assessment for internationalization—that you can use to conduct white-box testing. Discover how BMC Software has benefited from including white-box testing in its quality assurance efforts.
• A definition of white-box testing
• Different techniques for conducting white-box testing
• Various tools available to conduct white-box testing |
| T3 Emerging Technologies
Introduction to Testing Xml and Related Technologies
Michael Cooper, Revenue Technologies Corporation
The Extensible Markup Language (XML) provides a standards-based approach for defining and exchanging data. Gain an overview of XML concepts and terminology, XML conformance testing, validation, well-formedness checking and performance testing. Learn how to create and implement XML specific test strategy, test plans, test cases, and test data based upon the instructor’s real-world experiences.
• An overview of XML concepts and terminology
• XML standards and guidelines (W3C, NIST, and OASIS)
• Resources for XML testing tools |
| | Double Track Session! (This track fills two time blocks.) | T4 Test Automation
Intelligent Test Automation for Everyone
Harry Robinson, Microsoft Corporation
Software testing is getting harder—much harder. Manual testing and static test automation can no longer keep up with the complexity of software applications. Model-based testing is a new and evolving technique for achieving quality software releases and handling the testing load while retaining your sanity. Using simple programmatic test tools and familiar applications, this presentation makes the case for intelligent test automation and shows you how to apply it throughout the lifecycle.
• Why modeling makes sense as a test approach
• How to improve the efficiency of automated testing through modeling
• How to develop test models incrementally |
| T5 Web/eBusiness Testing
A Reusable Web Load Testing Process
Glen Schulze, PHH Arval
You’ve purchased the tools. Now you’re ready to start Web load testing. Learn how one company developed a process that supports—in a repeatable manner—the planning, coordination, results analysis, and results reporting that are necessary to make a Web load test cost-efficient and effective. Using information gained from lessons learned, documentation templates, and planning templates, get a jump start on your process.
• Key steps in planning an automated Web load test
• Questions to ask when developing an automated load test plan
• A reusable project plan to coordinate load test |
| | THURSDAY, MAY 17, 11:30 AM Go to 10:30 AM Go to 1:30 PM Go to 2:30 PM | T6 Test Management
When Test Drives the Development Bus
Cindy Necaise, Micros Systems, Inc.
Once development reaches “code complete,” the testing team takes over and drives the project to an acceptable quality level and stability. This is accomplished by weekly build cycles or dress rehearsals. The software is graded based on found, fixed, and outstanding errors. Development strives to increase the grades in each build—improving the quality and stability of the software. Learn how to use this “dress rehearsal” process to built team morale, develop ownership by the entire development team, and ensure success on opening night.
• How to develop daily test and engineering tasks to obtain weekly objectives
• How to develop grading criteria
• How to improve relations between the development and test team |
| T7 Test Techniques
Results from Inspecting Test Automation Scripts
Howie Dow, Compaq Computer Corporation
In many ways, development of scripts for automated testing is similar to software development. It involves requirements, design, code, test, and use. So why not use proven improvement activities to enhance the test script development process. This presentation discusses how one software test team adjusted and applied inspections to test script development. Learn the results of these inspections and how you might use this technique to improve the test script development activity in your organization.
• An example of inspections applied to test script development
• Pitfalls and benefits realized from this effort
• How to do something similar in your organization |
| T8 Emerging Technologies
Wireless Application Testing
Scott Moore, Commercequest
Putting the Web on cellular phones, PDA’s, and other wireless devices is all the rage. Still in its infancy, the idea of doing online transactions via mobile devices has created a new buzzword: “M-Commerce.” However, some companies in their quest to be first-to-market have overlooked the fact that this new technology is still in need of basic testing for quality, performance under load, and usability. Discover the importance of testing wireless applications, and learn how to identify common bottlenecks and problems.
• The main areas of testing wireless applications
• Unique problems associated with the wireless world
• An approach to wireless applications testing |
| T9 Web/eBusiness Testing
Mining the Gold from Your Web Server Logs
Karen Johnson, Peapod, Inc.
How often have you wished that you knew what your customers really thought of your Web site? You can extract a gold mine of information from your Web server’s log to reveal how your site is used. Learn ways for your team to use this information to organize browser testing based on user statistics, improve testing coverage of your Web site, and plan more realistic load testing.
• Identifying information that can be pulled from Web server logs
• A checklist of testing “needs” for different browsers
• How to clarify load testing requirements |
| T10 Test Management
Business Guidelines of the Test Organization
Eric Baird, Worldcom
To provide top-quality test services, you must do more than perfect your team’s technical prowess and automate repetitive test processes. You must run it as you would a small business by integrating business functions and modern business applications into the day-to-day operation of your group. Learn how this approach can increase productivity, cost efficiency, effectiveness, and morale in your test organization.
• How to use modern business approaches in running a test lab
• How to apply Customer Relationship Management (CRM) techniques to empower your customers
• How to identify currency used to pay for your services |
| | THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1:30 PM Go to 10:30 AM Go to 11:30 AM Go to 2:30 PM | T11 Test Techniques
Advanced Data Driven Testing (ADDT)
Shakil Ahmad, Convergys
Learn how the Convergys Test Automation Team developed an Advanced Data Driven Testing (ADDT) approach using a test automation engine. Gain insight into how this technique was successfully implemented to improve the reliability and quality of their software products and reduce the number of testing man-hours. Shakil Ahmad gives a high-level description of the engine design, functionality, and benefits as he shares his company’s successes—and frustrations.
• How to use data driven techniques in test automation
• How ADDT improves testing reliability and quality
• How to reduce the bug-fixing cost at an earlier stage of testing |
| T12 Emerging Technologies
Virtual Test Management: Rapid Testing Over Multiple Time Zones
Jim Bampos, Veritest
Eric Patel, Nokia Home Communications
With the ever-changing challenges of testing, here comes the latest one: managing multiple test locations. More and more companies are spreading testing organizations throughout the country and the world. Based on real-life experiences of the speaker, learn the mistakes to avoid and the lessons learned in managing multiple sites. Discover how the Virtual Test Manager can manage a dispersed test organization without having to always be physically present.
• The challenges of managing multiple test sites
• Five steps to successful virtual test management
• Best practices toward a common company goal |
| T13 Test Automation
Succeeding with Automation Tools
Jamie Mitchell, BenchmarkQA
The problems with using record/playback as your only test automation strategy are well known. But the other option—full script programming—is unattractive to many due to its high cost and long development time. This presentation discusses a strategy called defensive programming that incorporates the best of both worlds. Learn how to leverage your automation tool with simple implementation techniques to create robust test suites.
• How to use logging to diagnose problems quickly at crunch time
• How to build a complexity-reducing infrastructure
• Timing problems and synchronization strategies |
| T14 Web/eBusiness Testing
Looking Under the Covers to Test Web Applications
Oliver Cole, OC Systems, Inc.
Web applications are more difficult to test than other applications, yet their mission-critical nature and high visibility make high quality testing essential. Oliver Cole discusses how white-box testing techniques can be used to improve the quality and reliability of Web applications. Learn about the four key types of Web testing: functionality/correctness testing, load/stress testing, performance testing, and fault injection. Examples are provided in each category.
• Why white-box testing is important for Web application
• How to incorporate white-box testing into your organization
• Specific approaches for doing different types of white-box tests |
| | THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2:30 PM Go to 10:30 AM Go to 11:30 AM Go to 1:30 PM | T15 Test Management
Outsourced Testing: Should You Consider It?
Kenneth Paczas, Compuware Corporation
The need for a reliable test process and knowledgeable testers is more of a necessity than a luxury. Even if a company could afford to buy the latest testing tools and were able to find qualified QA/testing personnel, does it have the money and time to properly train its staff on these latest tools? Learn why companies should consider outsourcing their test process leaving testing to companies that are experts in testing.
• Test strategy and test environment creation
• Automated testing in the real world
• The cost to survive |
| T16 Test Techniques
What Are Patterns? Why Should Testers Care?
Sam Guckenheimer, Rational Software
Brian Marick, Testing Foundations
Patterns are a way of explaining design decisions. This format, invented by the architect Christopher Alexander and his colleagues, has been used in computer fields such as object-oriented design, risk management, and software testing. In their presentation, Sam Guckenheimer and Brian Marick describe what patterns are, why testers should use them, and how to create them.
• How patterns have been used in software
• Patterns are a way of learning and improving skills
• Capturing information relevant to test: context, fault models, and strategies |
| T17 Emerging Technologies
Java Meets eBusiness: How to Avoid the “Scalability Surprises”
Yves De Montcheuil, Empirix, Inc.
Many corporations are now using Java technologies to deliver mission-critical eBusiness applications for both the Intranet and Internet. To better understand how the applications will scale (or perform), this presentation provides you with a systematic process for testing, measuring, and improving performance. Find out what you need to know to properly identify and eliminate bottlenecks and ensure optimum performance.
• How to ensure the scalability of eBusiness applications using Java technologies
• How and when to use load simulation
• The advantages of testing Java early in the development process |
| T18 Test Automation
The Need for Speed: Automating Acceptance Testing In An Extreme Programming Environment
Lisa Crispin, iFactor-E
Testing in a Web environment can feel like leaping out of a plane. Testing in an eXtreme programming (XP) environment feels like competing in a sky-surfing competition! You have to be better than everyone else, but you don’t have much time. Lisa Crispin describes an approach to designing modularized, self-verifying tests that can be quickly developed and easily maintained. Explore the basic design and examples of this approach an learn how to apply the value of XP to test automation.
• Why testing in an XP environment is different
• How to identify the “important stuff” and focus acceptance testing for XP
• How to design automated tests that are low maintenance and self-verifying |
| T19 Web/Ebusiness Testing
Designing an Automated Web Test Environment
Dion Johnson, Pointe Technology Group, Inc.
This presentation offers an alternative to the typical automated test scripting method of “record and playback now and enhance the automated environment later.” Explore an automation system design for testing Internet applications, along with scripting techniques to enhance the scalability and flexibility of your automated test suite. Learn what base scripts need to be created, how to optimize the use of scripts through wild cards, and how to create reusable functions to speed up the automation process.
• How to develop a manageable directory structure for scripts and modules
• How to effectively parameterize automated scripts
• An example of this approach (WinRunner) |
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