Conference Presentations

Leverage Earned Value Management with Function Point Analysis

In the Earned Value Management (EVM) approach, as work is performed, it is "earned" on the same basis it was planned-both the original plan and agreed to changes. Today, more and more software projects are using this approach. Function Point Analysis has been shown to be a reliable method for measuring the size of computer software based on detailed requirements and specifications. Function points can be leveraged throughout the EVM process to establish cost and schedule baselines, control project scope over the lifecycle, and quantitatively assess percent complete. Ian Brown delves into the concepts of EVM as applied to software development and the key conditions necessary to profitably employ this management technology. Learn how companies are using function point analysis to improve the technology.

  • Earned Value Management applied to software development projects
Ian Brown, Booz Allen Hamilton
Getting to the Root of Software Security

Vendors try to protect their source code from would-be attackers, but it takes only one chink in the armor for a good reverse engineer to penetrate all the defenses so carefully put in place. Find out how to methodically uncover patterns to help you predict where the attacks will be focused and how they will be carried out.
T. B. Gillette
November 30, 2004
Software Test Automation Spring 2003: Mission Made Possible: A Lightweight Test Automation Experience

Using a challenging client engagement as a case study, Rex Black shows you how he and a team of test engineers created an integrated, automated unit, component, and integration testing harness, and a lightweight process for using it. The test harness supported both static and dynamic testing of a product that ran on multiple platforms. The test process allowed system development teams spread across three continents to test their own units before checking them into the code repository, while the capture of the tests provided automated integration testing and component regression going forward. He'll also explain the tools available to build such a testing harness and why his team chose the ones they did.

  • Examine the benefits-and challenges-of implementing an integrated, automated component and integration testing process in a Java/EJB development environment
Rex Black, Rex Black Consulting Services, Inc.
Automated Database Testing: Testing and Using Stored Procedures for Testing

Today's heterogeneous data environments place a heavy burden on test engineers. Applications must be tested for seamless interface with the back-end databases, but often this goes beyond what popular test automation tools can provide. Testers must know how to create and use SQL, stored procedures, and other database objects to effectively test today's data driven environments. This presentation delivers techniques for creating efficient automated tests of the critical database back end using simple scripting languages and relational database objects. It includes specific procedures, queries, views, and other relational database objects that are valuable for typical testing situations, and demonstrates how these automated tests can be used in conjunction with popular testing tools.

  • Learn about the testing of database objects and stored procedures
Mary Sweeney, Sammamish Software Services
A Formula for Test Automation Success: Finding the Right Mix of Skill Sets and Tools

Not sure what elements to consider now that you're ready to embark on the mission of automating your testing? This session explores the possibilities-the key mix of skill sets, processes, and tools-that can make or break any automation effort. The instructor shows you how to develop an informed set of priorities that can make all the difference in your effort's success, and help you avoid project failure.

  • Create better, more reusable tests to improve efficiency and effectiveness
  • Increase the value and reputation of QA within your organization
  • Establish a closer relationship with developers based on mutual respect
Gerd Weishaar, IBM Rational software
Testing Web Services: A Dose of Reality

Web services truly have the potential to change the world! Along with the magic of Web services comes a dose of reality. For Web services to truly be a panacea to the masses, quality is imperative. The old guard of "not enough" resources or processes must be challenged. The testing of Web services is one aspect of ensuring quality, but is it prudent to automate the testing of Web services? In this presentation, Theresa Lanowitz explores answers to these important questions:

  • How are Web services tested today? What is real in 2003? Are we ready for test automation or should we conduct manual testing?
  • What is the future direction of testing Web services? What is the outlook for 2005 and beyond?
  • Who are the vendors making in-roads today? Who is laying the groundwork for the future?
Theresa Lanowitz, Gartner Inc
Differential Testing: A Cost-Effective Automated Approach for Large, Complex Systems

Differential testing is an automated method you can use in testing large, complex systems. It's especially useful in situations where part or all of an existing production system is being upgraded, and the end-to-end functionality of the new system is expected to be the same as the old one. Rick Hower uses two case studies to provide descriptive examples of this novel and surprisingly effective approach. One case involves the rewrite of a complex business rule processing system for a large financial institution; the second involves the replacement of a critical sub-system in a telecom billing process.

  • Learn how to determine if differential testing will be useful for a project
  • Obtain some useful methods for selecting appropriate automated test data
  • Discover critical factors in the success of differential testing
Rick Hower, Digital Media Group, Inc.
Fault Injection to Stress Test Windows Applications

Testing an application's robustness and tolerance for failures in its natural environment can be difficult or impossible. Developers and testers buy tool suites to simulate load, write programs that fill memory, and create large files on disk, all to determine the behavior of their application under test in a hostile and unpredictable environment. Herbert Thompson describes and demonstrates new, cutting edge methods for simulating stress that are more efficient and reliable than current industry practices. Using Windows Media Player and Winamp as examples, he demonstrates how new methods of fault injection can be used to simulate stress on Windows applications.

  • Runtime fault injection as a testing and assessment tool
  • Cutting edge stress-testing techniques
  • An in-depth case study on runtime fault injection
Herbert Thompson, Security Innovation
Testing Toolkit for J2EE Systems: A Case Study

Taking a test team from a client/server environment to J2EE-based Web technologies and implementing test automation at the same time is a challenge. Introducing an agile test methodology into a traditionally waterfall-oriented organization at the same time is even bigger. In this case study, share Clay Coleman's successes and challenges as he mentored and supported a test group throughout this project. Walk with Clay from the days of early analysis and design; through test strategy development and planning; on to test case design and automation efforts; during all stages of test execution; past system rollout; and, finally, completion of an initial regression test suite. If you think you may go through such an experience, you'll learn some lessons Clay will never forget.

  • Integrate test automation into the construction phase of a development project
Clay Coleman, CapTech Ventures
Testing "Best Practices": From Microsoft's Context to Yours

Testing is a never-ending series of trade-off decisions, what to test and what not to test; when to stop testing and release the product; how to budget your testing resources for automated vs. manual testing; how much code coverage is good enough; and much more. To make these difficult judgement calls, we often turn to the "best practices" recommended by testing experts and others who have encountered similar problems. The key to successful implementation is matching their "best practices" to your own context (team make-up, company culture, market
environment, etc.). Barry Preppernau shares his insights gathered from over 20 years of testing experience at Microsoft. You'll learn about the tools and processes that have been successful within Microsoft and ways for you to identify, adapt, and implement successful test improvement
initiatives within your organization.
Barry Preppernau, Microsoft Corporation

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