What is meant by novice testers? How should they perform software testing?

WHO IS A NOVICE TESTER?

- A novice tester as we all know is a tester who is new in the field of software testing.
- He does not have any past experience and they have so many queries about the matters regarding the software testing field.
- They also have many doubts regarding the work that they have to do.
- Though being a novice tester, he/ she must be well versed with the basic principles of the field and disciplines to be followed.

Here I’m going to discuss some ways to help novice testers in improving their software testing skills. Follow the tips being mentioned and get great benefits:

1. HAVE FULL INFORMATION ABOUT THE APPLICATION

- Have full information about the application that you are going to test.
- You should understand what are its requirement functionalities and non requirement functionality.
- Performing software testing without the knowledge of the software program or application will lead you nowhere.
- Lack of understanding will not be able to decide that whether the output that you have obtained is correct or not.
- You will not be able to tell if the functionality under test is working properly or not.
- You will not be able to notice the absence of any functionality.
- Therefore, having a full detail of the software program or application under testing is necessary.

2. KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DOMAIN

- Like about software program or application, you should also have knowledge about your domain.
- Knowing about one’s domain solves many problems.
- Once you know about your domain, you will be able to suggest better solutions for the errors and bugs in the program.
- The more you keep your solutions in the limits of the domain, the more value your suggestions will get.
- Don’t just catch the bug; provide them counter measures also to curb them.
- Another problem that will be solved is of test cases.
- You will have better criteria to design your test cases up on.
- Your test cases will be capable of providing enough coverage to the code.

3. KEEP YOURSELF UP-TO-DATE WITH AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGIES

- Keep learning about the available technologies in the field as well as keep yourself updated with the new upcoming technologies.
- Come out with new practical ways for providing better solutions to the testing problems rather than just relying on the knowledge from the books.
- Learn with experience more than books.
- Design your own working procedures.
- It is not necessary to stick to the old pre designed procedures until and unless you don’t have an option.
- Keep rejuvenating your existing knowledge.

4. AVOID MAKING ASSUMPTIONS

- Don’t make assumptions. Assumptions don’t work for software testing.
- Never assume that the software program or application will be error free.
- This will be a mistake and will lead you to serious consequences.
- It is the duty of tester to look for bugs and errors.
- You cannot make sure that a program or application is error free and there is no need for testing.

5. GIVE YOUR BEST IN DISCOVERING ERRORS

- Testing an application over and over again still won’t make it 100 percent error free.
- Keep on discovering errors and bugs and give your best in correcting them.
- Have a priority list which will guide you about the testing sequence i.e., which functionality is to be tested first and so on.

6. DO NOT LIMIT YOUR THINKING

- Always think that you’re the end user and perform testing.
- Don’t limit your thinking to the designation of a tester but, think like a user also.
- This helps in many ways.
- You will be able to make out that what functionality IS important and need to be introduced in the software program or application that were missing previously.
- Think how this software application will be used by the user and what can be his expectations.
- All this will help you in making your software user friendly.