Better Software Articles

Action Figures

Models can be invaluable testing tools. Unfortunately, they are often difficult to automate. One solution is to have testers use action words, or action-based testing, to express models. This enables them to design action-based models that can be easily automated by a programming expert. Let Hans Buwalda teach you how to employ action words to help you get the job done.

Knowing the Odds

Want to know what you’re up against before you start? In just one afternoon, you can perform a simple risk analysis for your project. Doing so can ensure that you are better prepared for whatever surprises may lay ahead. Payson Hall teaches you how to do that in this article.

Security Bugs Exposed

The one thing that is crystal clear with respect to software security is that it isn't done well. Security bugs and design deficiencies that allow digital information to be stolen or tampered with are far too prevalent. As testing professionals, we have a big problem, and a big opportunity, on our hands. Learn ways to find security vulnerabilities in your system.

Show and Tell

It's critical that you discover the defects before your customers do. Metrics give you plenty of data, but creating charts and graphs that properly showcase this data can be difficult. In this article, read about six techniques that can help make this task a lot easier.

Site Unseen: Testing Web Services

It may only be a matter of time before you hear the words, "We need you to test a Web service." Ebusiness technology is being transformed with the creation of a new type of application called a Web service. Software developers are poised, eager to deploy Web services, but what does it mean to the world of software testing? Read on to find out!

The Four Most Dangerous Words

Think you're ready to implement a fantastic new process? How do you know whether the results are going to be different this time or if they are going to be the same? In this issue, Peter Clark gives you some tips on the proper way for companies to implement new processes.

Taking Stock of Your Career

Assess the state of your career by making a list of the positives and negatives. By creating your dream job on paper you can form a plan to help you get there. Elisabeth Hendrickson encourages you to make the time to take stock of your current career situation.

A Look at Application Prototyping with easyPilot

This application tool allows non-programmers to produce working prototypes of Windows, or Web-based, database-driven applications. Read on to find out how this new tool makes protoyping a viable part of the IT software development process.

The Upside of Downsizing

This article gives some pointers on surviving downsizing and will introduce you to the Scrum process. Scrum empowers teams by allowing requirements to be fluid while work is progressing. Learn what steps to follow to simplify and streamline your project by adopting this process.

Usability and Privacy

While most bugs that make headline news are due to careless software implementations exploited by skilled hackers, the problems in KaZaA center around its user interface. This article details KaZaA's application flaws and then suggests ways to prevent such flaws.