Software Testing is a field, full of false beliefs, myths and misconceptions. You can find many misconceptions about software testing and tester as a whole. These misconceptions are predominant even among testers too. But situation becomes more dangerous when other stakeholders like the management and the client also get infected by these misconceptions. That can land a tester in serious trouble. I have come across many such misconceptions in my career and will try to list out few of them:
1. Testers are ‘negative thinkers’ and they ‘complain’ a lot – I don’t know whether testers are negative or positive thinkers, but they are no doubt some of the best thinkers. If you run out of ideas at any point, try to consult a tester. Chances are more, that you will get some wonderful ideas from him. And about complaining a lot, testers don’t complain. Rather they introduce you to the reality! They offer evidence and show how things in the software don’t work!
2. Testers like to break software – Testers don’t find any pleasure to break things. Rather the software is already broken and the tester only finds it out. Testers don’t like breaking software, rather they like in dispersing illusions that the software works properly. Testers try to free the stakeholders of the project from false beliefs. Testers are the people who introduce you to the realities.
3. Testers act as guardian of Quality – Testers are not quality police. Quality is something which is built into software. Since, testers don’t build software, how can they assure quality of the software? Testers can only provide quality related information to the management. Testers are service providers not quality guardians. Moreover, Quality can not be assured by testing. As Cem Kaner says, “Whatever is QA – that is
not testing”. So concentrate on the job which you are best doing at, i.e. testing. Leave the job of Quality Assurance to your management.
4. Exhaustive testing can make software Bug Free – Let me tell you, there is no such thing like exhaustive testing! Simply because, the definition of exhaustive can vary from context to context. Any way, nobody can make a software bug free; even if he tests it for his entire life! Not even God. A tester’s job is to show the possible ways in which the software doesn’t work. But there is no such way to guarantee bug free
software. Or to tell that the software has been 'completely' tested! Think of Microsoft, where the tester developer ratio is 1:1. Still we see Microsoft Products being shipped with numerous bugs, security holes, vulnerability issues etc.
Think of NASA, where the tester developer ratio is a whooping 5:1. Still disasters like Columbia could happen. Testers can find bugs in the software, but can’t make it 100% bug free. This is the truth and we have to live with it.
5. Testers and developers should not be friends – This is the most dangerous misconception, prominent in software industry. Even, I have seen management encouraging such attitudes among the employees. But this may do more harm than good and result in a dangerous situation. Rather, testers can get some valuable project related information from their developers. If they are friendly, then they can approach for some wonderful test ideas from the developers. Even the testers can get some important clues that can help them in designing powerful test cases. Remember, bugs are introduced by the developers. So they are the best person to know the possible ways to find them. Got any clue! :)
Its really informative, some facts and other points given here are quite considerable and to the point as well, would be better to look for more of these kind for efficient results.
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