A survey tool, tested six ways
A team builds a tool that cleans survey answers and gives class summaries. Before anyone uses it, they test it in different ways.
Each way finds a different kind of fault. This lesson covers the first six.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Concept testing | checking an idea with the people it is for, before it is built |
| Unit testing | testing one small part alone |
| Boundary testing | testing values at the edges of what is allowed |
| Integration testing | testing that parts work together once joined |
| Performance testing | checking how quickly the solution responds |
| System testing | testing the whole finished solution against what was asked for |
| Requirement | something the finished solution must do, as agreed with the customer |
| Benefit | what a method is good at |
| Drawback | what a method is poor at, or what it costs |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can define six testing methods, say why each is used, and give a benefit, a drawback and when it fits.
Starter
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Concept, unit and boundary testing
| Method | What it is | Why use it | Benefit | Drawback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concept | Show the idea or a sketch to the people it is for | Check it solves their real problem | Finds a wrong idea before money is spent | Opinions only: nothing runs yet |
| Unit | Test one small part alone | Find faults in that part | Fast, and points to the exact fault | Misses faults where parts join |
| Boundary | Test values at and either side of each limit | Faults gather at the edges | Finds many faults for little work | Says nothing about the middle |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Integration, performance and system testing
| Method | What it is | Why use it | Benefit | Drawback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Integration | Test parts once they are joined | Check the parts agree on data and order | Finds interface faults | Harder to find which part is at fault |
| Performance | Measure how fast it responds | Check it is quick enough to use | Shows slow steps early | Needs tools and results vary |
| System | Test the whole solution against the requirements | Check it does everything asked | Shows how the user will meet it | Late, so faults cost more to fix |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Try it: a performance measure
import time
rows = list(range(200000))
start = time.perf_counter()
total = 0
for r in rows:
total = total + r
end = time.perf_counter()
print("total", total)
print("seconds taken is above 0:", end - start > 0)
# The exact time changes each run. Compare 200000 with 400000 rows.
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4 questionsHave a go: your answers are marked here and then forgotten. Sign in if you would like your score kept, and to pick up where you left off.Sign in to keep your score
Your answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.