What are different characteristics of beta testing?

Beta testing is carried out after the successful completion of the alpha testing. As alpha testing can be regarded as the internal form of user acceptance testing, similarly beta testing can be regarded as the external form of the user acceptance testing.

- A few versions of the finished software application are released. These testing versions are called the beta versions of the software system.
- These beta versions of the software system are released to a certain limited audience.
- The audience consists of the people who are not a part of the programming team or the software development team.

- This is done so because the more number of people, there will be more exploitation of the software. This is done to ensure that the number of bugs is minimum.
- Sometimes, the software manufacturer company may decide to release the beta versions of the software to a huge open public so as to get more feedback on the quality of the software application.
- Alpha testing is the internal pilot test and beta testing is called the external pilot test.

- Beta testing is carried out on only on the software that has successfully passed the first level unit testing, integration testing, system testing, internal pilot test and removal of the faults or the bugs.
- Beta testing is carried out because the finished software product may still have some minor errors and bugs. In order to find them, user participation is very much needed.
- The beta versions are released to some selected customers only to simulate a normal execution environment for the software application to make it run normally and to spot the problems in such an environment.

- Beta testing phase starts when the software development is complete.
- Beta testing can be thought of as a way of incorporating usability testing.
- The process of releasing the beta versions to the selected customers and other suitable audience is known as beta release.

- Usually after the development of the software system, this is the first time for which the software becomes available to the public.
- The audience selected for carrying out beta testing on the beta version of the software system is called beta testers.
- Beta testers are generally the prospective customers of that particular software manufacturing company who are willing to test the software system free of charge. As a reward for this, they are given the completed and finished software free of cost or sometimes at a reduced price.

- The beta testing phase is known by many names such as prototype, preview, early access or technical preview (TP).
- One is normal beta testing, there’s one more kind of called perpetual beta testing.
- In perpetual beta testing, new features and functionalities are continually added to the software system and therefore, not declaring the beta version as the final release of the company.

- In the context of software development, beta testing is considered as the second phase of the software testing stage.
- Beta testing is nothing but the pre release testing. Beta versions provide a preview of the final release of the firm.
- Alpha testing and beta testing collectively form the acceptance testing. So we can say that the beta testing is the second phase of the acceptance testing.

- Beta testing is conducted in the customer environment by multiple customers.
- Beta testing also ensures that the behavior of the software system is same in the development environment and in the customer environment.
- Beta testing is time consuming and may take weeks and months. The whole application is installed in the customer environment and the development of the software system has been 100 percent completed.

What are different characteristics of alpha testing?

For alpha testing, it won’t be wrong if we say that it is another name for acceptance testing. Alpha testing is very much similar to the acceptance testing. Alpha testing is performed in the front of the customer or the client for their satisfaction and acceptance.

The client or the customer needs to verify or check whether the software artifact has been developed according to their:
- Service level agreement or SLA as it is abbreviated.
- Requirements
- Specifications
- Defect rate efficiency or DRE as it is known in short form.

If during the alpha testing the client or the manufacturer missed something, and discovers it later, then the software system has to again undergo a second alpha testing before giving the software product another green signal. But, client or customer revision is required mostly in beta testing.

Alpha testing can be formally defined as an actual operation or simulation testing before the launch of the software system and it does not involves software developers.

It is the testing of software on the site of the software developer by the customer or the client after the completion and finishing of the software system or the application.

- Alpha testing can also be called a kind of user acceptance testing or UAT a sit is known in short form.
- Alpha testing is carried out at the site of the software development. It is done by the clients or the customers. When the project is the development phase, it is said to be under alpha testing.
- Alpha testing allows the software tester to make some minor changes or modifications during the testing or at the end of it.
- It is carried out in the front of the developers, so that they can now what is the error or the bug and what it is and how it can be fixed efficiently.

- Alpha testing can be thought of as a stage of software prototype at which it may be discovered that the software system does not have all the required functionalities and specifications. But, one thing is definitely sure that the software system will have all the core functionalities and operational abilities and it will efficiently accept the input data values and generate the proper output as expected.
- Alpha testing is carried out on any system other than the system on which the software system was developed in the office of the developer.
- Client or the customer carries out the alpha testing under the leadership of the software developer.
- These days the alpha testing is being done by both the end users and the software developers.
- Alpha testing is the complete testing as it contains most of the functionality and specifications.
- Sometimes a group of clients or users are selected to perform alpha testing for the software system.
- Mostly the alpha testing is performed in-house or sometimes is performed by an external testing firm which in close terms or cooperation with the concerned software development corporation or the company.
- Sometimes it may also happen that the software developers may test the software system in front of the end users present within the development environment.
- This kind of testing is popularly known as off site testing. The end user side or the testing side is also called the development end.

In alpha testing it is necessary to determine whether the the software system is delivering the service as it was expected by the client or the customer. The environment in which the alpha testing is performed is called the client environment.

Introduction to Validation testing? What is the validation criteria?

Validation tries to uncover errors, but the focus is at the requirements level, i.e. on the things that will be immediately apparent to the end user. It begins at the end of integration testing, when all individual modules are packaged and interface errors are uncovered and corrected. In validation testing phase, testing focuses on user visible actions and output that is user recognizable. The criteria of software entering into validation phase is that it functions in a manner that is reasonably expected by the customer.

In software requirements specification, there is a section called validation test criteria. Test plan lists out the tests to be conducted and a test procedure defines test cases. These plan and procedure are designed to ensure that all the functional requirements are satisfied, behavioral characteristics are achieved, performance requirements are attained, usability is met and documentation is done.

Configuration review ensures that all elements of software configuration are properly developed, cataloged and every necessary detail is given. It is also known as audit.

Alpha testing is done at developer's site. It does not happen at usual workplace. The real users are simulated by using these techniques and carrying out tasks and operations that a typical user might perform.

Beta testing is done at end user sites. The developer is not present. It is the live application of software in an environment that is not controlled by the developer. The end user records all the problems that he faces and reports to the developer.

What are steps involved in deriving test cases? What are Validation, Alpha, Beta testing? What are test metrics?

The steps in deriving the test cases using use cases are:
- Using the RTM, the use cases are prioritized. Importance is gauged based on the frequency with which each function of the system is used.
- Use case scenarios are developed for each use case. The detailed description for each use case scenario can be very helpful in later stage.
- For each scenario, take at least one test case and identify the conditions that
will make it execute.
- Data values are determined for each test case.

After system testing is culminated, validation testing is performed which consists of a series of black box tests. It focuses on user-visible actions and user-recognizable output.
Alpha and Beta Testing are a series of acceptance tests. Alpha testing is performed in a controlled environment normally at developer's site. In alpha testing, developers record all errors and usage problems while end users use the system. Beta testing is done at customer's site and developers are not present. In beta testing, end-users records all errors and usage problems.

The amount of testing effort needed to test object oriented software can be indicated by the metrics used for object-oriented design quality. These metrics are:
- Lack of Cohesion in Methods (LCOM)
- Percent Public and Protected (PAP)
- Public Access To Data Members (PAD)
- Number of Root Classes (NOR)
- Number of Children (NOC) and Depth of the Inheritance Tree (DIT)

Software Testing - Validation Phase - Alpha Testing

A software prototype stage when the software is first available for run. The software has the core functionalities in it but complete functionality is not aimed at. It would be able to accept inputs and give outputs. Usually, the most used functionalities are developed more. This test is conducted at the developer's site only. In a software development life cycle, depending on the functionalities, the number of alpha phases required are laid down in the project plan itself.

During this, the testing is not a through one since only the prototype of the software is available. The basic installation and un-installation tests and the completed core functionalities are tested.

The aim of alpha testing is :
- to identify any serious errors.
- to judge if the intended functionalities are implemented.
- to provide to the customer the feel of the software.

A thorough understanding of the product is done now. During this phase, the test plan and test cases for the beta phase which is the next stage is created. The errors reported are documented internally for the testers and developers reference. No issues are usually reported and recorded in any of the defect management or bug trackers.

The role of the test lead is to understand the system requirements completely and to initiate the preparation of test plan for the beta phase. The role of the tester is to provide input while there is still time to make significant changes as the design evolves and to report errors to developers.