QA!= QC, Testing is a part of QC

2011-12-18T05:04:00.000-08:00

Here in Egypt, we are still facing a big problem with QA, QC, Testing definitions.

For example, some companies offer QA job vacancies, “no problem, surely?" but when you refer to the job description, you will find that it's related to the testing activities not to QA, let us face this problem.

Whatever is QA, It is not testing – Cem Kaner.

Testing has grown big enough to be separated from its Big brother QA. The growth of testing must be controlled and measured by QC so testing is a part of QC.

Let's define the difference between all of them:

QA: A set of activities ensure that the process is defined and appropriate. Methodology and standards development is examples of QA activities. A QA review would focus on the process elements of a project - e.g., are requirements being defined at the proper level of detail.

QC: A set of activities focus on finding defects in specific deliverables - e.g., are the defined requirements the right requirements. Testing is one example of a QC activity, but there are others such as inspections.

Testing: is the process of executing a system with the intent of finding defects? (Note that the "process of executing a system" includes test planning prior to the execution of the test cases.)

Common mistakes:
- QA is the responsible for quality.
- Testing improve the product’s quality.
- Testing is a part of QA activities.

Finally, QA, QC and Testing each of them completes the others which lead to success

Reference:
- Google Testing blog.
- John Morrison's blog.

Tester Mind Mapping Tool

2011-12-12T12:36:00.000-08:00

Firstly, let’s define the Mind Map as Wikipedia described it:
"Mind maps are a graphical method of taking notes. Their visual basis helps one to distinguish words or ideas, often with colors and symbols"

How can we use it in software testing?

Mind mapping in software testing means that you gather all your ideas, testing tools, testing types and heuristics.

There are lots of free mind map tools like the free-mind, bubbl and others shareware like Mind Manager, Xmind.

Over here I'll illustrate bubbl and free-mind tools to map your mind as a tester

bubbl
1- Go to https://bubbl.us/ website.
2- Sign up.
3- Begin to draw your brainstorming in an easy way.
4- Save and export in .jpg or .png format.

Free-Mind
free-mind is the most free powerful tool, you can download it from here and below some of its feature list:
Fully functional following of HTML links stored in the nodes, be it www links or links to local files.
Fast one-click navigation
Smart Drag'n Drop, dropping of texts or list of files from outside
Smart copying and pasting into
Export of a map to HTML and other needed formats.
Possibility to use and edit long multiline nodes; even with newlines

Below are two samples about CMS application using bubbl and free mind and another one to show you how to map your test scenarios.

Thinker Mind

QA!= QC, Testing is a part of QC

Tester Mind Mapping Tool