Building Quality into Web Applications - Meeting the Challenges of Testing and Usability Paula Duchnowski CQA, CSTE (608)

2  The challenges of Web testing  Special types of tests for Web-based systems  When and how to conduct usability tests Topics of Discussion

3 Source: Jupiter/NFO Consumer Survey 53% 24% 9% 1% 13% 53% did not leave the site 24% returned, only after going to competitor’s site 13% did not return to the site after completing session 9% left the site, never returned 1% unknown Functionality Design Usability Content Scalability Performance User reaction to web site problems 47% left site Importance of Quality on the Web

4 Internet Challenges: Process Primary Challenge: Moving at ‘Web’ speed - how can testing keep pace? Iterative, incremental OO development methods Increased focus on Usability Increased focus on Quality: 40% of users will NOT return to a site if their experience is negative

5 Internet Challenges: Technical Architecture multi-tiered: Multiple points of failure Elimination/fuzzy boundaries between customer and business systems Open access requires strict security

6 Web Testing must be FAST! Don’t have weeks to test - maybe days Risk-based testing Iterative & incremental

Traditional Waterfall Life Cycle Analysis Design Build TEST Implementation

8 Web Development Life Cycle (Web DLC) Development is iterative Testing must transform into an iterative and incremental approach that mirrors development

9 What about Iterative Development? Prototypes & mini-builds that continue to evolve in an incremental and iterative life cycle Each iteration is tested - depth of test increases

10 What about Iterative Development? (continued) Testing: As with other deliverables- develop mini-builds of test plans. The test assets will evolve and grow with the application itself until it reaches its final maturity Will need test environment early to perform some level of verification on prototypes and other iterations

11 Link verification & continuity Configuration tests Security Load and performance testing Usability testing Web - More Types of Tests

12 Link Verification and Continuity Verification: each link has to have a destination Continuity: each link goes to the proper destination

13 Link Verification Tools that can evaluate missing / dead links Difficult to test all links manually Tools won’t test link continuity

14 Platform and Browser Tests

15 Configuration / Platform Too many combinations to realistically test ALL Know user profile –Most common configurations Full test on one or two configurations Sub-set of tests on other support configurations

16 Configuration Testing Don’t wait ’til final stages Supported configurations will impact design Test early on different combinations Need a LAB I can’t believe I didn’t test this in Netscape!

17 Security Testing Validates that the application is protected from unauthorized use Ensures data protected from unauthorized access and/or modification

18 Security Testing (continued) Security needs to be considered through all phases of a project Define a Security Policy and tailor for risk facing a certain system Tests focus on ensuring that policies are followed

19 Common Security Considerations Password security Encryption of data ( including passwords!) Firewalls Data access by non-UI means Virus detection Transmission logging Physical security

20 Stress & Load Testing Subject site to extreme conditions (high transaction volume, large database size, etc. Identifies impact of system on processing time, storage and other applications Know customer & transaction profile

21 Stress and Load Testing Measure the Following Breaking point: a.k.a. “performance knee” Throughput: Hits per second that system supports Response time: Time to respond to a piece of information Download time: Time to load images Round-trip time: Total transaction time (include connection & processing)

22 More Stress and Load Things to Measure Stress the servers, network, and database Monitor: –CPU usage –Disk space –Memory utilization –Memory leaks

23 Usability Testing An objective and efficient way to assess how well your Web site works for target users

24 Usability Testing Measures Ease of use Ease of learning Appeal Efficiency Usability testing measures your site at any stage of development for:

25 Why Usability Test a Web Site The average Web site has 11 “usability catastrophes” that prevent users from completing a task (Nielsen) On average, only 42% of users are able to find specific information on the Web (Spool) If their first experience is negative, 40% of users will not return to a site

26 Benefits of Usability Testing Increase the user’s task efficiency and success rate Find problems early in design and correct them Increase sales Gain repeat users Increase user satisfaction

27 Primary Usability Techniques Prototyping –Paper or online (low-fi or hi-fi) Heuristic evaluation by usability expert Observation –Various user profiles Recording and analysis of user sessions

28 Usability Testing Equipment  Paper  Pen/markers  Post-its  Stopwatch  Tape recorder  Computer w/logging software  Usability Lab Simple …………….. to Complex

29 Activities in the Web DLC to assure Web site Quality

30 Analysis Identify testing requirements by developing the testing strategy Project requirements should consider security, usability, configuration

31 Design Develop test cases Usability test design –Use white board drawings –Paper Prototypes Prepare the test environment: Create lab Install test tools

32 Design (continued) Facilitate review of key work products Train test team Establish defect repository Update test strategy Develop Unit Test Checklists

33 Build Conduct Unit testing Develop test cases Develop test scripts Facilitate code reviews

34 Build (continued) Create / maintain test data Finalize Test environment Create / maintain test data Track defects

35 Test Test execution –For tests identified in the test strategy Track & monitor defects Analyze test results Develop testing summary reports Establish regression test suite

36 Test - Usability Test with different users Test online prototypes Record and/or observe user experiences

37 Implementation Regression test enhancements / fixes Continue to track defects Conduct usability tests to identify improvements / enhancements

38  The challenges of Web testing  Special types of tests for Web-based systems  When and how to conduct usability tests Summary

39  Comments?  Questions? Q&A