Grove Books
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Software Test Automation, Mark Fewster & Dorothy Graham, Addison Wesley, 1999
If you have or are about to buy a test execution tool, this book is essential to help you achieve the best from the tool. Covering both management and technical issues, it will save you months of wasted effort.
"provides the equivalent of 2 or 3 years of on the job experience - James Bach".
If you have or are about to buy a test execution tool, this book is essential to help you achieve the best from the tool. Covering both management and technical issues, it will save you months of wasted effort.
"provides the equivalent of 2 or 3 years of on the job experience - James Bach".
Software Inspection, Tom Gilb & Dorothy Graham, Addison Wesley, 1993
Find out the secrets of why Inspection is the most effective review technique. Select the most powerful elements to add to your own review skills – the answers to your questions will be found in this book
Find out the secrets of why Inspection is the most effective review technique. Select the most powerful elements to add to your own review skills – the answers to your questions will be found in this book
Foundations of Software Testing, Dorothy Graham, Erik Van Veenendaal, Isabel Evans & Rex Black, Cengage Learning, 2008
A description of software testing based on the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) Foundation Syllabus. This book gives a solid grounding in testing and will help prepare you for the ISTQB Foundation exam
A description of software testing based on the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) Foundation Syllabus. This book gives a solid grounding in testing and will help prepare you for the ISTQB Foundation exam
Testing Books
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A Practitioner's Guide to Software Test Design, Lee Copeland, Artech House, 2004
The best book on testing techniques: each technique is clearly explained with good examples, well laid out. Lee explains techniques that are confusing in other books!
The best book on testing techniques: each technique is clearly explained with good examples, well laid out. Lee explains techniques that are confusing in other books!
How to Break Software: a Practical Guide to Testing, James A Whittaker, Addison-Wesley 2002
If you want to find lots of bugs, this book has lots of advice and ways to make applications fail, categorised into user and system interface attacks. Many of them are applying traditional techniques in extreme ways (e.g. boundary value analysis), but Whittaker brings a fresh approach to testing – bug-finding is fun.
If you want to find lots of bugs, this book has lots of advice and ways to make applications fail, categorised into user and system interface attacks. Many of them are applying traditional techniques in extreme ways (e.g. boundary value analysis), but Whittaker brings a fresh approach to testing – bug-finding is fun.
Lessons Learned in Software Testing: a Context-Driven Approach, Cem Kaner, James Bach & Bret Pettichord, Wiley, 2002
This book will really make you think. You may not agree with everything in it (I don’t), but it is a very good collection of thoughts about testing. It is a book intended to be dipped into, and this works very well. An average 'lesson' is half to a page, and they are grouped by general topics.
This book will really make you think. You may not agree with everything in it (I don’t), but it is a very good collection of thoughts about testing. It is a book intended to be dipped into, and this works very well. An average 'lesson' is half to a page, and they are grouped by general topics.
Pragmatic Software Testing, Rex Black, Wiley, 2007
A good book on all aspects of testing – includes exercises with worked solutions to techniques (e.g. orthogonal arrays), as well as reviews and risk analysis. Both technical and management issues are addressed – lots of good advice here.
A good book on all aspects of testing – includes exercises with worked solutions to techniques (e.g. orthogonal arrays), as well as reviews and risk analysis. Both technical and management issues are addressed – lots of good advice here.
Peer Reviews in Software: a practical guide, Karl E. Wiegers, Addison Wesley, 2002
An excellent book on reviews. It contains lots of good advice on people and cultural issues, and selecting the right type of review. Inspection is covered well from a developer’s perspective. Good examples of metrics are included.
An excellent book on reviews. It contains lots of good advice on people and cultural issues, and selecting the right type of review. Inspection is covered well from a developer’s perspective. Good examples of metrics are included.
Risk-based e-business Testing, Paul Gerrard & Neil Thompson, Artech House, 2002
Although e-business has moved on since this book was written, the basic principles of risk-based testing are still applicable, and represent the best way to approach the classic question in testing: 'how much is enough'.
Although e-business has moved on since this book was written, the basic principles of risk-based testing are still applicable, and represent the best way to approach the classic question in testing: 'how much is enough'.
Software Testing, a craftsman's approach, Paul C. Jorgensen, 3rd. Edition, Auerbach, 2008
This book provides an approachable mathematical basis for some of the classic testing techniques. For the first time, graph theory makes sense! The book includes black and white box techniques, integration and system testing, and object-oriented testing, with a chapter on test-driven design. A rigorous book for a serious software tester.
This book provides an approachable mathematical basis for some of the classic testing techniques. For the first time, graph theory makes sense! The book includes black and white box techniques, integration and system testing, and object-oriented testing, with a chapter on test-driven design. A rigorous book for a serious software tester.
Software Testing Fundamentals: Methods and Metrics, Marnie Hutcheson, Wiley, 2003
This book has lots of useful and practical ideas including metrics and the “MITs” method – Most Important Tests. Her style is very readable; I like the “it” metric, the “I feel lucky” software development approach, and why coverage is like the maze of the Minotaur
This book has lots of useful and practical ideas including metrics and the “MITs” method – Most Important Tests. Her style is very readable; I like the “it” metric, the “I feel lucky” software development approach, and why coverage is like the maze of the Minotaur
Surviving the Top Ten Challenges of Software Testing: a People-Oriented Approach, William E. Perry & Randall W. Rice, Dorset House Publishing, 1997
A very readable little book with lots of very helpful advice, particularly about people and political issues. Each chapter includes author experiences of the problems described and practical solutions. The automation chapter is weak, but a new edition of this book is due out soon (2009?)
A very readable little book with lots of very helpful advice, particularly about people and political issues. Each chapter includes author experiences of the problems described and practical solutions. The automation chapter is weak, but a new edition of this book is due out soon (2009?)
Systematic Software Testing, Rick D. Craig & Stefan P. Jaskiel, Artech House, 2002
A very thorough book about all aspects of testing, including test planning and organisation, and the “test-first” STEP approach (Systematic Test and Evaluation Process).
A very thorough book about all aspects of testing, including test planning and organisation, and the “test-first” STEP approach (Systematic Test and Evaluation Process).
Test Process Improvement: a practical step-by-step guide to structured testing, Tim Koomen & Martin Pol, Addison Wesley, 1999
A structured approach to test process improvement, this book tells you what you need to know to assess your current maturity, and ways to improve it.
A structured approach to test process improvement, this book tells you what you need to know to assess your current maturity, and ways to improve it.
The Art of Software Testing, Glenford J. Myers, Wiley, 1979
The original “classic” book on testing (1979 edition). Starting with a self-assessment test, it covers the fundamentals of what testing is, and the testing mindset. The general parts are well worth reading, although the technical aspects are now well out of date. I am informed that the 2nd edition is not as good, so this may become a collector’s item.
The original “classic” book on testing (1979 edition). Starting with a self-assessment test, it covers the fundamentals of what testing is, and the testing mindset. The general parts are well worth reading, although the technical aspects are now well out of date. I am informed that the 2nd edition is not as good, so this may become a collector’s item.
Other Books
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Adrenaline Junkies and Template Zombies, Tom DeMarco et al., Dorset House, 2008
This book is a collection of vivid descriptions of human behaviour in the workplace. Some of the patterns are helpful; some of them are not. With catchy names and the authors’ experiences, this book will help you recognise, encourage or avoid similar patterns in your own workplace.
This book is a collection of vivid descriptions of human behaviour in the workplace. Some of the patterns are helpful; some of them are not. With catchy names and the authors’ experiences, this book will help you recognise, encourage or avoid similar patterns in your own workplace.
Communication Gaps: and How to Close Them, Naomi Karten, Dorset House, 2002
Who hasn’t suffered from mis-understandings or a failure to communicate or understand? This book helps make sense of how we communicate in both personal and business situations. Useful examples and practical techniques are described.
Who hasn’t suffered from mis-understandings or a failure to communicate or understand? This book helps make sense of how we communicate in both personal and business situations. Useful examples and practical techniques are described.
More Secrets of Consulting: The Consultant's Tool Kit, Gerald M Weinberg, Dorset House, 2001
Any of Jerry Weinberg’s books are great – this one includes many useful “tools” to use. For example, the 'Yes/No medallion': when you say yes to someone else, you are saying no to yourself. Readable, insightful and amusing.
Any of Jerry Weinberg’s books are great – this one includes many useful “tools” to use. For example, the 'Yes/No medallion': when you say yes to someone else, you are saying no to yourself. Readable, insightful and amusing.
Peopleware: Productive projects and teams, Tom DeMarco & Timothy Lister, Dorset House, 1999
This is a classic book on people issues, with short but very pointed chapters, including a very amusing one about one of the earliest test teams.
This is a classic book on people issues, with short but very pointed chapters, including a very amusing one about one of the earliest test teams.
Principles of Software Engineering Management, Tom Gilb, Addison Wesley, 1988
A classic of good advice in a very readable format. Tom advocated building systems in small chunks well before the agile movement came along. His other ideas on measurement and inspection are equally effective today.
A classic of good advice in a very readable format. Tom advocated building systems in small chunks well before the agile movement came along. His other ideas on measurement and inspection are equally effective today.
Slack: Getting past Burnout, Busywork, and the Myth of Total Efficiency, Tom DeMarco, Broadway Books, 2001
Everyone seems to be pursuing the goal of efficiency. This book shows how dangerous this can be if taken to the extreme. Tom argues that total efficiency stifles any change and leads to stagnation, not progress.
Everyone seems to be pursuing the goal of efficiency. This book shows how dangerous this can be if taken to the extreme. Tom argues that total efficiency stifles any change and leads to stagnation, not progress.
The Inmates are Running the Asylum: Why High-Tech products drive us crazy and how to
restore the sanity, Alan Cooper, SAMS Publishing, 1999
This book may change the way you think of our world forever. With many amusing and frightening stories, Cooper shows why usability design is not enough. We need 'interaction design' to save us from the relentless tide of geek-friendly but people-hostile software.
This book may change the way you think of our world forever. With many amusing and frightening stories, Cooper shows why usability design is not enough. We need 'interaction design' to save us from the relentless tide of geek-friendly but people-hostile software.
The Psychology of Everyday Things, Donald A Norman, BasicBooks, 1988
Your attitude to doors will never be the same after you read this book. A powerful discussion of usability of the objects we interact with on a daily basis, with parallels to the computer world.
Your attitude to doors will never be the same after you read this book. A powerful discussion of usability of the objects we interact with on a daily basis, with parallels to the computer world.
The Bug, Ellen Ullman, Doubleday, 2003
An engrossing story about a tester, an infamous bug known as UI-1017 and the programmer who was charged with trying to fix it. As the frustrations with this bug eat away at Ethan the programer, Roberta the tester is drawn into the programming world
An engrossing story about a tester, an infamous bug known as UI-1017 and the programmer who was charged with trying to fix it. As the frustrations with this bug eat away at Ethan the programer, Roberta the tester is drawn into the programming world
Vital Lies, Simple Truths: The Psychology of Self-Deception, Daniel Goleman, Bloomsbury, 1996
A fascinating insight into how the human mind is capable of deceiving itself, and why we do it (to protect ourselves from pain).
A fascinating insight into how the human mind is capable of deceiving itself, and why we do it (to protect ourselves from pain).
Behind Closed Doors: Secrets of Great Management, Johanna Rothman & Esther Derby, The Pragmatic Bookshelf, 2005
This book is scenario based and includes lots of really useful advice in a very readable and concise format. It is intended for a new manager with a technical background. Its focus is on what happens behind the scenes, such as dealing with people on a one-on-one basis.
This book is scenario based and includes lots of really useful advice in a very readable and concise format. It is intended for a new manager with a technical background. Its focus is on what happens behind the scenes, such as dealing with people on a one-on-one basis.
