Software Testing - Error Guessing

Software is essential to carry out every day to day activities in our lives. It comes into our use with help of multiple devices like the desktop, laptop, mobile, tablet, ipad, etc. It is seen that all the aspects in our lives are guided, and driven with the use of the numerous types of software. Thus it is very essential to develop it such that it is defect free, and is able to cater to the end user requirements.

What is Software Error Guessing?

The software error guessing is used to identify errors in the unclear portions of the software which do not have an understandable specification. While following this process, the testers can detect the sections of the software that require more description in the requirements by utilizing their experiences.

In this approach, the testers use their domain knowledge on the software to anticipate the potential errors. It works perfectly in situations where the testing team has to verify a very complicated software having very poor documentation. It is also considered as a risk based testing approach, where the testers mostly concentrate on the high risk modules of the software.

The software error guessing allows identification of defects from the initial stages of the software development life cycle (SDLC). By doing so, the quality of software is enhanced since the probable bugs are detected prior to the execution of the formal test cases.

Why is Software Error Guessing Done?

The software error guessing is an informal testing methodology where the testers utilize their skills, experience, expertise, and domain understanding to detect potential bugs in the software that may not have been detected by the formal test cases or by going through the requirements. It includes speculating where issues may exist based on encountering similar software, or user characteristics, and expectations. This technique complements the formal testing process by detecting defects that may have been missed in a documented, and structured testing approach. Though the software error guessing is not a formal methodology, it is seen that multiple faults in the software are detected by using it.

Use of Software Error Guessing

The software error guessing is a black box testing methodology. It is a quick, and effective technique used frequently in situations where there are time and resource constraints to carry out a thorough testing. It works perfectly where an iterative, and incremental software development methodology has been adopted in an agile framework which is driven by fast adaptation, and flexibility.

The software error guessing gives an opportunity to the testers to leverage their testing skills, knowledge, and expertise to identify potential errors in the complicated software having outdated technologies.

Also under circumstances where there are ambiguous, and poorly documented requirements, the software error guessing technique is widely used. It also allows the testing team to focus, and prioritize high risk modules in the software. By channelising the domain knowledge, and experiences on those modules, the team is often successful in detecting numerous defects from the most error prone modules of the software.

Advantages of Software Error Guessing

The advantages of the software error guessing are listed below −

• The software error guessing is an effective, and productive testing methodology when used in combination with other testing techniques.
• The software error guessing determines the error prone, and high risks components in the software.
• The software error guessing detects defects which may not have been covered by the other formal testing approaches.
• The software error guessing helps to reduce the testing cycles.

Disadvantages of Software Error Guessing

The disadvantages of the software error guessing are listed below −

• The software error guessing can only be performed by experienced testers who have adequate skills, expertise, and domain knowledge.
• The software error guessing is totally driven by the skills, and experience of the testers.
• The software error guessing technique only does not guarantee an overall quality of the software.
• The software error guessing is not a productive way of finding errors compared to the effort involved in the whole process.
• The software error guessing needs to be associated with other testing methods to ensure the quality, and robustness of the software.
• The software error guessing does not give very good test coverage.

Factors Taken into Consideration While Performing Software Error Guessing

The factors taken into consideration while performing the software error guessing are listed below −

• Learnings from the past software releases.
• Experience, and awareness of the testers.
• Historical, and past data trends.
• Test Execution Report.
• Defects logged in the past software releases.
• Production defects raised till date.
• Usual testing procedures.
• Graphical User Interface of the software.
• Test Results obtained from the past test cycles.

Conclusion

This concludes our comprehensive take on the tutorial on Software Error Guessing. Weve started with describing why is software error guessing done, what is software error guessing, where and how to use the software error guessing, what are the advantages of software error guessing, what are the disadvantages of software error guessing, and what are the factors taken into consideration while performing software error guessing. This equips you with in-depth knowledge of Software Error Guessing. It is wise to keep practicing what youve learned and exploring others relevant to Software Testing to deepen your understanding and expand your horizons.