Chapter 16. Bug Bashes and Beta Testing

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Having Other People Test Your Software

• Test Sharing

• Beta Testing

• Outsourcing Your Testing

In Chapter 15, "Automated Testing and Test Tools," you learned how technology in the form of tools and automation can help make your testing more efficient. Using software to test software is a great way to speed up your work and to help find bugs that might otherwise be missed.

Another means to be a more effective tester is to leverage other people. If you could get more people, even if they aren't professional testers, looking at your software before it's released, they may be able to find bugs that you and your fellow testers failed to see.

Highlights of this chapter include

• Why it's important to have other people test

• How you can get others looking at your software

• What beta testing is and how testers are involved

• How to effectively outsource your test work