Writing Better Defect Reports

Summary:

Why do some testers get a much better response from development than others? Part of the answer lies in the defect report. Following a few simple rules can smooth the way for a much more productive environment. The objective is not to write the perfect defect report, but to write an effective defect report that conveys the proper message, gets the job done, and simplifies the process for everyone. This paper focuses on two aspects of defect reports: 1) the remarks or description and 2) the abstract.

About the author

Kelly Whitmill

Kelly Whitmill has more than nineteen years experience in software testing. Most of that time his role has been that of a team lead with responsibility for finding and implementing effective methods and tools to accomplish the required tests. He is particularly interested in practical approaches that can be effective in environments with limited resources. He has a strong interest in test automation. He has worked in both small and large company environments. He has worked on PC-based, Unix-based, and Mainframe-based projects. He currently works for the IBM Printing Systems Division in Boulder, Colorado.