Predictive Analytics in Software Testing

This document discusses risk-based testing and test progress monitoring. It explains that gathering metrics on product risks, defects, test coverage, and confidence is important for monitoring test progress objectively and subjectively. Inaccurate monitoring can lead to incorrect management decisions. Risk-based testing involves identifying project and product risks, assessing their level and likelihood, and mitigating risks through techniques like testing to reduce defects before release. The test analyst's role is to implement the risk-based approach correctly by determining what to test first based on risk.

One thing which we were observing since the year 2001 was how testing activities integrate with SDLC in early stages by using methodologies such as Agile. Agile was used by many organizations for shortening their development time. Also use of virtualization, cloud computing, and service-oriented architecture also become famous.

Manual testing involves human testers executing test cases, while automation testing uses automation tools to run test cases. Manual testing is time-consuming and relies on human resources, whereas automated testing is significantly faster. While manual testing requires investment in human resources, automation testing requires investment in testing tools and automation engineers who have programming knowledge.

The document discusses the need for software testing to adapt to today's complex, networked world. It argues that most testing still focuses on structured functional testing as if for standalone software, rather than integrated systems. It recommends that testers specialize in areas like usability, security, and gain domain expertise. Testers need to be flexible and creative in their approaches. The testing process also needs to align more with project management methods and tools to effectively deliver results.

Negative testing is all about ensuring that a product or application under test does NOT fail when an unexpected input is being fed. The purpose of Negative testing is to break the system and to verify the application response during unintentional inputs.

The document discusses regression testing, including its definition, benefits, when it should be applied, types, techniques, challenges and best practices. Regression testing involves re-running all tests to ensure new code changes have not introduced new bugs or caused existing bugs to reappear. It helps find bugs early, increases chances of detecting bugs, ensures correctness and that fixed issues do not occur again.