Rex Black will present on opportunities for testers in agile methodologies. When done properly, agile processes provide many benefits to testing such as automated unit testing, static code analysis, continuous integration, and reasonable workloads. Testers should embrace these opportunities by gaining skills in programming and test automation. Maximizing the opportunities can increase software quality.

1. Today’s webinar is presented by Rex Black he will discuss
Agile Testing Opportunities
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2. 9 Characteristics of Agile
Methodologies to Turbo-
charge Your Testing
Rex Black, RBCS, Inc
With thirty years of software and systems engineering experience, Rex Black is
President of RBCS (www.rbcs-us.com), a leader in software, hardware, and
systems testing. For almost twenty years, RBCS has delivered consulting,
outsourcing and training services in the areas of software, hardware, and
systems testing and quality. As the leader of RBCS, Rex is the most prolific
author practicing in the field of software testing today.
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6. Agile Testing Opportunities
How Good Agile Processes Benefit Testing
[NEED PICTURE HERE]

7. Agile Testing Opportunities
Agile lifecycles are becoming common
Every lifecycle affects testing
I have previously presented talks and
webinars on Agile testing challenges
However, Agile processes, when done
properly, also create a number of
testing opportunities
Let’s look at these Agile opportunities
and how testers can take advantage of
them…
Agile Testing Opportunities
www.rbcs-us.com
Copyright (c) RBCS 2008-2012 Page 7

8. Automated Unit Testing
While limited in defect finding
effectiveness, automated unit tests do have
the ability to limit regression risk
They can be run as often as every few
hours, or at least over night
Automated unit tests can be combined
with static code analysis and code
coverage to maximize effectiveness and
completeness
Many tools are available, including open
source tools
Agile Testing Opportunities
www.rbcs-us.com
Copyright (c) RBCS 2008-2012 Page 8

9. Static Code Analysis
Static code analysis can identify many
problems prior to testing
Some static analysis can identify
security and maintainability problems
that testing cannot identify easily
Many tools are available, including
open source tools
Agile Testing Opportunities
www.rbcs-us.com
Copyright (c) RBCS 2008-2012 Page 9

10. Code Coverage
Code coverage tools can tell
development what they’ve tested and
what they haven’t
Good code coverage pushes unit testing
towards the 50% upper range of defect
finding effectiveness
Many tools are available, including
open source tools
Agile Testing Opportunities
www.rbcs-us.com
Copyright (c) RBCS 2008-2012 Page 10

11. Continuous Integration
Continuous integration allows detection of
integration problems immediately after
code check-in
Broken builds can be reduced or even
eliminated
By combining continuous integration with
automated unit testing, component
integration testing and build sanity testing
can be automated and almost immediate
Many tools are available, including open
source tools
Agile Testing Opportunities
www.rbcs-us.com
Copyright (c) RBCS 2008-2012 Page 11

12. Automated Functional Test
Automated functional testing tools have
evolved
Examples include Fitnesse and Selenium
These can be integrated into with
continuous integration, automated unit
testing, code coverage, and static analysis
frameworks
This provides further minimization of
regression risk
Many tools are available, including open
source tools
Agile Testing Opportunities
www.rbcs-us.com
Copyright (c) RBCS 2008-2012 Page 12

13. Reviews of Requirements
Ideally, user stories are reviewed by
business and technical stakeholders
early in the sprint
Testers are involved in these reviews
This results in high quality
requirements and test oracles, resulting
in early defect removal and defect
prevention
Agile Testing Opportunities
www.rbcs-us.com
Copyright (c) RBCS 2008-2012 Page 13

14. Reviews of Tests
In addition to requirements, business
and technical stakeholders can review
test conditions (acceptance criteria)
This reduces the number of false
positives and false negatives associated
with testing
Test results are improved
Quality confidence and insight is also
improved
Agile Testing Opportunities
www.rbcs-us.com
Copyright (c) RBCS 2008-2012 Page 14

15. Reasonable Workload
While not always followed, when it is followed,
this Agile principle helps to prevent test team
burnout
Since some testing tasks are outside the sprints
(such as test automation), some testers must
work outside the sprints on these long-term
projects
Proper estimation during the initial days of
each iteration helps to avoid pressure on testers
during the end of the iteration
Proper estimation also includes estimation of
testing
Agile Testing Opportunities
www.rbcs-us.com
Copyright (c) RBCS 2008-2012 Page 15

16. Control Technical Debt
When done properly, Agile teams have
a “fix bugs first” approach
This prevents a large backlog of bugs
and long closure periods beyond the
sprint length
Periodic stabilization sprints help as
well
Given proper metrics, testing can help
measure and manage technical debt
Agile Testing Opportunities
www.rbcs-us.com
Copyright (c) RBCS 2008-2012 Page 16

17. Maximizing the Test Opportunities
Many of the Agile testing opportunities
arise from technical aspects
Testers are best positioned when they
know how to program in the language
being used
Many of the Agile testing opportunities
arise from test automation
Testers are best positioned when they
know how to use test automation tools
effectively
Agile Testing Opportunities
www.rbcs-us.com
Copyright (c) RBCS 2008-2012 Page 17

18. Conclusions
Agile lifecycles, when properly done,
present many opportunities to testers
Testers should embrace those
opportunities when they arise, and get
involved in the Agile teams
Maximizing the benefits of these
opportunities requires testers to have
certain skills
Agile methodologies promise to
increase software quality when these
opportunities are exploited
Agile Testing Opportunities
www.rbcs-us.com
Copyright (c) RBCS 2008-2012 Page 18

19. Agile Testing Opportunities
www.rbcs-us.com
Copyright (c) RBCS 2008-2012 Page 19
For over a dozen years, RBCS has delivered services in consulting, outsourcing and
training for software and hardware testing. Employing the industry’s most
experienced and recognized consultants, RBCS conducts product testing, builds
and improves testing groups and hires testing staff for hundreds of clients
worldwide. Ranging from Fortune 20 companies to start-ups, RBCS clients save
time and money through improved product development, decreased tech support
calls, improved corporate reputation and more. To learn more about RBCS, visit
www.rbcs-us.com.
Address: RBCS, Inc.
31520 Beck Road
Bulverde, TX 78163-3911
USA
Phone: +1 (830) 438-4830
Fax: +1 (830) 438-4831
E-mail: info@rbcs-us.com
Web: www.rbcs-us.com
To Contact RBCS

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