Ad hoc Testing Homework

This is an individual activity.  Do not discuss this activity with other students. If you have difficulties contact the instructor.

 "Ad hoc" testing means testing without a plan.  You just improvise some tests as you are interacting with the software.  This is how most students test their programs until they learn more formal techniques.  You just try whatever tests come into your mind as you are executing the software. 

Your assignment is to perform ad hoc testing on the Hangman software developed by the Fish Bowl Games team.  You are trying to determine if there are any defects in the software.  Don't spend more than one hour on this activity.

1. Go to the Fish Bowl Games home page and locate the links to the SRS, User Manual, and Download Page.

2.  Follow the installation instructions in the User Manual to install the Release 2 Hangman product on your workstation.  You should be able to
3.  Read the SRS and the User Manual to understand how the software should behave.  (You can skip the section on using Instant Messaging to interact with WordServer.) 

4. Execute the Hangman software and attempt to determine if it behaves as specified. Keep a  log (neatly handwritten or typed) of all the tests you try.  Record the exact data values you enter.  Note the results of each test, indicating "OK" if the actual output was as expected, or "FAIL" if the actual output was different than predicted. If the test fails, describe the discrepancy between the expected output and actual output.

4. Type up a brief conclusions section which summarizes the test results. Comment on the nature of problems you encountered. Distinguish software failures from other kinds of failed tests:

A) Software fails to conform to specification:
Input data which produce outputs other than what is predicted.
Unexpected abnormal termination - "crashing."
Any behavior not consistent with the specification.

B) Other test failures.
Specification or User Manual are incomplete or ambiquous.
Any system event which the specification hasn't anticipated.
Inputs for which the specification doesn't define a response.
Outputs not predicted or defined in the specification.


Document History
Date
Author
Description
4/7/06
JD
Initial Release