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Testing and Performance FAQ (Continued)

Tools
Q. What are some of the most common categories of testing tools?
A. Four common categories are developer-oriented tools; functional testing tools; load-testing tools; and performance monitoring and management tools.

Q. What's the difference between a functional tool and a load-testing tool?
A. They are used to test the application in different stages of the development process. Functional testing is usually done first, to test how well the application performs under a variety of circumstances. Once the application passes these tests, it's generally submitted to load testing (also called performance or stress testing). During this process, the application is stressed to its breaking point to see how well it performs when used by many users simultaneously.

Q. How do I decide which tool within a particular testing category to choose?
A. Base your decision on a variety of factors, including whether a tool is known for testing applications similar to yours, whether the tool works well with the languages and protocols you're using, and how technology-savvy your testers are. That's important, because some tools are easier for those with limited programming knowledge to use than others.

Q. Once I purchase the tool, how do I ensure that my team will use it effectively?
A. Develop a test plan that determines how and what you plan to test before you start using the tool. And make sure the vendor sticks around to provide training and answer questions—it helps ensure that tool makes it into wide use instead of being relegated to a shelf.

Q. What type of vendor works best with applications written in specific program languages, such as C++, Java or Visual Basic?
A. All modern testing products today can accommodate widely used programming languages like these, but if your applications have a large amount of code in disciplines like SOAP, consider a boutique software vendor. Parasoft has strong roots in C++, SOAP and Java, while Quest Software Inc.'s Sitraka division specializes in Java. Other specialty vendors may be useful in other situations. Sweden-based Telelogic, for example, offers the Tau product line for communications-related applications.

Q. Are there tools I can use to test my applications after they are live?
A. Yes. Testing tools for the production environment include performance monitoring and management tools, and test management tools. Tools in the first category run scripts to determine the type of performance the application is achieving at different points during the day. If performance lags below what is expected, the tool will alert the tester. Vendors offering tools in this category include Mercury Interactive, Compuware, Empirix, and IBM Rational. In the test management category, several vendors, including Compuware, IBM Rational, Segue, and Mercury Interactive, provide a historical documentation of which tests were run on which applications and what problems were found.



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