Software testing is a very new subject, the contents of the current study is not very deep, involving only the test number, test functions, and so some very simple questions, we can say is still in the infant stage.Currently, the software testing as a growing profession, set up a university in the United States.The software testing discipline is not mature, in the end what it needs a professional basis, there is no conclusion, but there is no measure of a good standard the merits of a tester.Dr. Chen Honggang the Microsoft case provides us with software testing methods.
Software Test Engineer: its function is to understand the product's functional requirements, and then test it, check the software has no errors (Bug), decide whether the software is stable (Robust), and write the corresponding test specifications and test cases.
Dr. country to Microsoft headquarters, a visit, feel very strange: "What is the tester? Why do Microsoft products, more than half of testers?" In fact, software testing in product development to occupy a very importantpart, which is a necessity, is Microsoft's practice, from twenty years to understand the truth, but also from the continued failure of Microsoft's summary of the experience.
We can feel that Microsoft's previous product sometimes crash, crash and so on, and today's products, the products are more than five years ago, better and much more stable.Why?This is because the testing getting better and better, testers, more and more and more experienced.On this point, Microsoft has counted an account: first, Microsoft and everyone else, that the test is not important for developers.Typically, a team has hundreds of developers, but only a few testers and developers is much higher wages than many testers.After years of practice, the company found problems with the product for those who go to repair a patch of the money spent, more than the cost of hiring several testers, much more.
However, software testing in the end what is a science?No one knows, everyone is being learned.What kind of background it, and no one knows.Therefore, Microsoft's testing staff, only a small part of the background from the computer, while the rest have to learn Russian, and English, mathematics, engineering, biological species ... ... particularly, but one thing: the test must takeThere is a feeling.
Now that software testing is still in development stage, often based on the tester, or instinct, by feeling, by the talent to do software testing.If, as the user to discover that just by using the Bug is not a true test, this is just a basic test, you can only find the general users.
Finally, I for some interesting and true story to the end of this article.
I do the test team leader at Microsoft headquarters and managers, we often need to recruit testers.When I recruit people usually follow two principles: first, to see his logic, this is a very important point; the second is strange to see whether his thinking, whether it can often have some strange ideas.The first is to rely on nurture, but the second point is probably not out of nurture, innate factors somewhat inside.
These two principles that I have many years out of practice.The software testing discipline is not mature, there is no measure of a good standard the merits of a tester.And in the end it is what requires a professional basis, there is no conclusion.From the present point of view, not to say that computer science on the most suitable for the professional software testers.
That it might not believe what I have personally been a housewife to do recruiting testers of Microsoft!
This housewife was forty years old, is a naval officer's wife, the mother of three children.She read to high school graduation, not even on the college (in the United States who did not attend college are very few.)Her computer is also very elementary level, but also to follow his daughter to learn.Later, she at home bored, and decided to come out to find a job, and actually went to candidates of the Microsoft.
At the time, when I interviewed her that her computer has been very limited level, can only reach a general user's criteria.However, I found her a very strange way of thinking, a lot of strange ideas and can quickly find some issues.So I casually let her try it on IE, and she gave me the spot to find several Bug.With a feeling she is completely come to Bug's.
Later, I was the boss, I want to hire her.Owner of one, his eyes widened: "Are you crazy? You want to hire a housewife! (You crazy? You actually want to hire a housewife!)"
So I told him my idea.He is a university that allows the family had gone for testing women who are incredible.However, he eventually said: "You are the hire manager.You make the decision! (You are the hiring manager, or to you to decide!)"
I finally decided that he hired her.In the beginning, she did a lot of problems.I just realize that her perception is very strong, but forgot how her other qualities.Because of her family has been doing none of the women stayed in occupational settings, so looked very rude, often noisy, loud everywhere, use of office telephone calls, smoke in the office, and often conceited, walked behind the others proudly tellothers: "I just found a bug! (I just found a Bug!)", as if others are able to detect Bug.Later, however, I warned her, she would strive to correct these problems, and very seriously dedicated.She learned very quickly, three months later to have been very professional.Finally, my boss has finally admitted that she is really very serious, and she became an official staff, and now I am afraid she has become head of the test.
From this example can be seen to be a good tester does not need a common area (such as computers) and professional basis, we can not evaluate the same developer in accordance with common sense to evaluate the test personnel.Developers certainly need a professional basis, but there are a variety of testers, such as IE to do some manual testing (Manual Test) do not need any professional basis, they are used in the user's identity (or even abuse) products and find the problem.Women to the family who has this talent.I was also recruited some students object, physics Ph.D., but they do not how, much less women in the family doing well.