Jamie L Mitchell - Advanced Software Testing - Vol. 3, 2nd Edition: Guide to the ISTQB Advanced Certification as an Advanced Technical Test Analyst

Jamie L. Mitchell

Jamie L. Mitchell has over 32 years of experience in developing and testing both hardware and software. He is a pioneer in the test automation field and has worked with a variety of vendor and open-source test automation tools since the first Windows tools were released with Windows 3.0. He has also written test tools for several platforms.

The former Lead Automation Engineer for American Express Distributed Integration Test / Worldwide, Jamie has successfully designed and implemented test automation projects for many top companies, including American Express, Mayo Clinic, IBM AS/400 division, ShowCase Corporation, and others. Jamie holds a Master of Computer Science degree from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and a Certified Software Test Engineer certification from QAI.

He has been a frequent speaker on testing and automation at several international conferences, including STAR, QAI, and PSQT.

Rex Black

With over 30 years of software and systems engineering experience, Rex Black is president of RBCS (www.rbcs-us.com), a leader in software, hardware, and systems testing. For 20 years, RBCS has delivered consulting, outsourcing, and training services in the areas of software, hardware, and systems testing and quality. Employing the industrys most experienced and recognized consultants, RBCS conducts product testing, builds and improves testing groups, and provides testing staff for hundreds of clients worldwide. Ranging from Fortune 20 companies to start-ups, RBCS clients save time and money through higher quality, improved product development, decreased tech support calls, improved reputation, and more.

As the leader of RBCS, Rex is the most prolific author practicing in the field of software testing today. He has written over 50 articles and ten books that have sold over 100,000 copies around the world, including numerous translations and foreign releases such as Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Spanish, Hebrew, Hungarian, and Russian editions. He is a popular speaker at conferences and events around the world.

Rex is the past president of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) and of the American Software Testing Qualifications Board (ASTQB).

Guide to the ISTQB Advanced Certification as an Advanced Technical Test Analyst

2nd Edition

Jamie L. Mitchell
Rex Black

Jamie L. Mitchell

Rex Black

Editor: Dr. Michael Barabas
Projectmanager: Matthias Rossmanith
Copyeditor: Judy Flynn
Layout and Type: Josef Hegele
Proofreader: Julie Simpson
Cover Design: Helmut Kraus, www.exclam.de
Printer: Sheridan
Printed in USA

ISBN: 978-1-937538-64-4

2nd Edition 2015 by Jamie L. Mitchell and Rex Black

Rocky Nook
802 East Cota Street, 3rd Floor
Santa Barbara, CA 93103

www.rockynook.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Black, Rex, 1964
Advanced software testing : guide to the ISTQB advanced certification as an advanced technical test analyst / Rex Black, Jamie L. Mitchell.-1st ed.
p. cm.-(Advanced software testing)
ISBN 978-1-933952-19-2 (v. 1 : alk. paper)-ISBN 978-1-933952-36-9
(v. 2 : alk. paper)-ISBN 978-1-937538-64-4 (v. 3 : alk. paper)
1. Electronic data processing personnel-Certification. 2. Computer software-Examinations-Study guides. 3. Computer software-Testing. I. Title.
QA76.3.B548 2008
005.14-dc22
2008030162

All product names and services identified throughout this book are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. They are used throughout this book in editorial fashion only and for the benefit of such companies. No such use, or the use of any trade name, is intended to convey endorsement or other affiliation with the book. No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or utilized in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the copyright owner.

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

What a long, strange trip its been. The last 30 years have taken me from being a bench technician, fixing electronic audio components, to this time and place, where I have cowritten a book on some of the most technical aspects of software testing. Its a trip that has been both shared and guided by a host of people that I would like to thank.

To the many at both Moravian College and Lehigh University who started me off in my Exciting Career in Computers, for your patience and leadership that instilled in me a burning desire to excel, I thank you.

To Terry Schardt, who hired me as a developer but made me a tester, thanks for pushing me to the dark side. To Tom Mundt and Chuck Awe, who gave me an incredible chance to lead, and to Barindralal Pal, who taught me that to lead was to keep on learning new techniques, thank you.

To Dean Nelson, who first asked me to become a consultant, and Larry Decklever, who continued my training, many thanks. A shout-out to Beth and Jan, who participated with me in choir rehearsals at Joe Sensers when things were darkest. Have one on me.

To my colleagues at TCQAA, SQE, and QAI who gave me chances to develop a voice while I learned how to speak, my heartfelt gratitude. To the people I am working with at ISTQB and ASTQB: I hope to be worthy of the honor of working with you and expanding the field of testing. Thanks for the opportunity.

In my professional life, I have been tutored, taught, mentored, and shown the way by a host of people whose names deserve to be mentioned, but the list is too abundant to recall every name. I would like to give all of you a collective thanks; I would be poorer for not knowing you.

To all the bosses who never fired me while I struggled to learn test automationfailing too many times to countallowing me the luxury of learning the lessons that made me better at it: a collective shout-out to you. One specific mention: Kudos to Dag Roppe, my team leader, who let me build a keyword-driven framework in the late 90s that was a wild success until the 16-bit tool finally maxed out and caused the whole architecture to fold in on itself: I appreciate your patience and regret you lost your job for letting me go so long on my seminal failure.

To Rex Black, for giving me a chance to coauthor the Advanced Technical Test Analyst course and this book: Thank you for your generosity and the opportunity to learn at your feet. For my partner in crime, Judy McKay: Even though our first tool attempt did not fly, I have learned a lot from you and appreciate both your patience and kindness. Hoist a fruity drink from me. To Laurel and Dena and Leslie: Your patience with me is noted and appreciated. Thanks for being there.

In the spirit of It Takes a Village, no one really works alone today. While writing this book, I got help from several people who tried to keep me on the straight and narrow. I want to especially thank Amr Ali who added valuable input in his timely book reviews and gave me many valued suggestions during the review period. I would also like to thank Leslie Segal who provided deep insight into several topics while I worked on this book.