Software Testing Metrics: A Blueprint For Software TestingSoftware testing is an important part of the development of software. It doesn't consist of one simple step, but rather a series of tests each serving a different purpose. The main goal is in making the quality of the software sufficient for release. They measure the quality features in software testing metrics. Software testing metrics will give the tester and the consumer satisfaction in knowing the software product is good. They are used as a product management tool measuring either the quality or the quantity, depending on what the testing engineer is looking for. Software testing metrics are grouped into different categories such as project management or process improvement. Metrics may be used for different purposes. One example of a project management metrics would be using metrics to determine how many bugs are found in the software. Another would be to tell you how many case tests have been written for the software. The main purpose of using metrics is to give you a "visible" look into the software to see what it needs to have done for quality and as a guide of how close it is to being ready for release. These are the two most important features and reasons for using metrics. Software testing metrics can be overused if they are not helping to get the software done in an efficient and cost effective manner. This is similar to if you make lists in your home listing what needs to be done and checking them off the list as they get done. If more of your time is spent putting stuff on the list and making more lists (of unimportant things that won't be done anyways), the lists become a waste of time. This is true with software metrics if they are being overused or not used at all. It is more beneficial if the company executives make the software testing metrics that they want the engineers to follow. It is the software testing engineers' job to do the testing according to the metrics you have set, but not to design the metrics. The most important feature of the metrics, and this should be its goal, is to allow you to visibly see if the quality of the software is up to your standards as well as visibly see how ready or close to ready the software is for release. One of the most important and wide used metrics for software testing is for test progress tracking. It can be in the form of a graph or chart and should list the number of test case required, the number of test cases per week expected and the number of test cases per week actually performed. This is the best way to make good use of the software testing metrics and to help the software team efficiently complete the testing and development of the software. |