By the end of this session you should be able to... Understand what is meant by ‘using computers to solve problems/ software development’ including: Use of an IDE to debug a program. Different test strategies, including black and white box testing and alpha and beta testing. Test programs that solve problems using suitable test data and end user feedback, justify a test strategy for a given situation.

Good Practice Write the date at the top of a new page at the start of every lesson When you see the pen symbol, copy down what is on the board (you can put it into your own words). Your book will be checked regularly, it must be presentable. When you see the book symbol with a page number, you should turn to that page in your text book. Page: 00

Important Your teacher will introduce the following lessons before you have completed your project. Often people leave testing until the end of a development life cycle. This is a mistake, as you have seen when studying development life cycles, it is important to involve the end user and consider the final product as soon as practically possible.

Using IDEs to debug a program To write program code, all you need is a text editor. To translate it you need an assembler, a compiler or an interpreter. To put together compiled code into a complete program you need a linker. It is much easier to do all these things in one program called an IDE (Integrated Development Environment). An IDE will probably include: An editor to write the source code Facilities for automating the build A debugger Features to help with code writing, such as pretty printing and code completion. An IDE will also include debugging features such as: Stepping through the program Inspection of variables Setting breakpoints Page: 45

Example of program that makes use of this feature Task Complete the table below Feature of IDE Description Example of program that makes use of this feature Image An editor to write the source code Facilities for automating the build A debugger Features to help with code writing, such as pretty printing and code completion.

Task Complete the table below Debugging feature of IDE Description Example of program that makes use of this feature Image Stepping through the program Inspection of variables Setting breakpoints

Exam questions Define the following terms: Source code Build Pretty printing What debugging features are there in your version of Little Man Computer?

Types of tests White box testing Black box testing Destructive testing Alpha testing Beta testing Acceptance testing

Task You are required to create an information point explaining about different types of testing for software development. Your information point should include: A description of the testing Examples of the testing being used Sub levels or variations of the testing Advantages/limitations of the testing strategy When and where the testing strategy can/ should be used Your information point can be paper or computer based. You will be sharing your final products with the class.

Exam questions Describe the practical differences between white and black box testing. Suggest where it might be suitable for a developer to forgo black box testing. Many software companies offer the opportunity for everyday users to become beta tester. Describe the advantages/ disadvantages for users and software company for approach towards testing. A software developer does not see the need for acceptance testing. Describe the advantages of this type of testing.

Testing strategy Probably the most important aspect of testing from your view is that of understanding and applying a testing strategy. You are expected to develop, use and justify your choice of testing strategy, test data, user feedback strategy, improvement strategy and evaluation strategy. It is often the case that testing strategies change as the project develops, indeed it is more than likely that tests carried out during development will alter the path the project is taking.

Task Complete the table below Strategy Key features of strategy Example of how this strategy could be used Advantages/limitations of strategy Entering test data Gathering user feedback Developing a list of improvements Evaluating the final finished product

Project task You should now be well underway with the development of your programming project. You may have already done some testing but not really documented this. You should now develop a testing strategy, show evidence of testing at all key points within your project and justify your selection of a testing strategy. Please remember to include an evaluation at the end of your project. It might be helpful to make use of screenshots to ensure you are covering all main types of testing requires. For example, show IDE testing going on. Make use of pages 251 – 261 in the text book to help you with this task.