Code Complete, 2nd Edition

Key Points

• Testing by the developer is a key part of a full testing strategy. Independent testing is also important but is outside the scope of this book.

• Writing test cases before the code takes the same amount of time and effort as writing the test cases after the code, but it shortens defect-detection-debug-correction cycles.

• Even considering the numerous kinds of testing available, testing is only one part of a good software-quality program. High-quality development methods, including minimizing defects in requirements and design, are at least as important. Collaborative development practices are also at least as effective at detecting errors as testing, and these practices detect different kinds of errors.

• You can generate many test cases deterministically ...