Which Software Testing Company?

Software Testing Services

A key area to focus on when considering a software testing company is its software testers. Today there exists two popular certifications, ISEB and ISTQB. Try and ensure that the software testers at least hold these certifications at foundation level. Another factor with regards to software testers is the amount of experience they have. Many software testing companies state that there testers have five years I.T. experience. But reading between the lines, this simply means that they have five years experience anywhere in the field of Information Technology. You should really ask the software testing company, how many years professional software testing experience they actually have.

Many software testing companies offer a wide range of software testing services. Caution should be used though, as many of these companies will advertise these services but may not necessarily have the expertise to perform them. The types of software testing services that any professional company should offer is:

Test Case Creation

This very popular service typically involves creating detailed test cases that not only can be used on the project under test, but also due to their high quality can be re-used on future projects and form a high quality test documentation asset. Good testers will accumulate all required information necessary to produce the test cases, typically from design documentation, requirements and developer interview. Once the information has been analyzed a software tester will create a sophisticated excel spreadsheet which includes test cases, results sheets, environment setup and version details etc. Clients are involved in every stage of test case development in the form of a test case review process.

Functional Testing

Typical software products today include large amounts of critical functionality and complex features, added to this significant time pressures to get the product released make functional testing one of the most important stage of any software development. A software tester’s manual functional testing techniques have been proven to be highly effective at essentially determining whether or not the functionality actually works, or not. Versatile software testers can work from their own created test cases or use any pre-existing test cases you may already have. Good software testers readily use ad-hoc techniques when executing any tests to expand the test coverage. The aim during functional testing is to highlight any issues as early as possible so the developers can resolve it. This can obviously effectively reduce the development costs to your company.

Usability Testing

In order to ensure your software meets the needs of the end user; Usability Testing can be used. Not only will usability testing detect errors, but it will also detect navigational issues, language issues, workflow experience etc. Good software testers put themselves into the mindset of the end user and will report on the ‘look & feel’ of the software under test. Good software testers often build a set of test cases based upon real end user scenarios or business cases to ensure the software is tested in a similar way to how the real end users will actually use the software. This type of software testing has been proven to increase the ROI of software developments by enhancing the end user experience and therefore potentially increasing product sales. As usability testing is trying to ensure that the end user experience is appreciated, we perform this type of testing manually.

Regression Testing

Regression testing is surprisingly often overlooked area of software testing. This is often due to the assumption that when new functionality is working correctly then the software is ready for release. However, more often than not, additional issues have been introduced that affect existing functionality. Software testers have the knowledge and experience to identify existing test cases that are suitable for regression. Regression test cases are commonly functional test cases that are reused at regular intervals throughout the software development to ensure that the expected results remain consistent, thus providing confidence that nothing has been adversely affected by change.

Acceptance Testing

Acceptance testing is typically driven by the end user or customer. Acceptance test cases are normally executed by the customer prior to accepting the product. But commonly, these test cases are also given to the software developers to ensure their product meets the level of acceptance before the end of development. Software testers can perform execution of these test cases to highlight any issues to the development team as early as possible. Software testers can also derive expected acceptance test cases from customer requirements for you. On a smaller scale our software testers can also derive smoke tests to act as a form of acceptance tests during stages of the software development life cycle.

System Testing

System testing of software is testing conducted on a complete, integrated system to evaluate the system’s compliance with its specified requirements. Good software testers treat System testing as an investigatory testing phase, where the focus is to have almost a destructive attitude and will aim to test not only the design, but also the behavior and even the believed expectations of the customer. Software testers will It is also test up to and beyond the bounds defined in the software requirements specification. This is test that if a failure occurs, that it is handled correctly by the software with as little impact on the customer as possible.

Exploratory Testing

Commonly, while the software is being tested, a good software tester learns things that together with experience and creativity generates new good test cases to run. Good software testers consider exploratory testing to be an approach that can be applied to any test technique, at any stage in the development process. Software testers adopt the exploratory approach during all stages of testing. However, many software test teams use the exploratory testing approach during the final stages of a development just to allow a software testers to roam freely throughout the software focusing on areas of functionality that the software tester has a ‘gut feel’ where there may be issues. This approach can often detect defects that have previously not been considered in other ‘more formal’ areas of software testing.

Installation Testing

Installation testing is a type of software testing that focuses on what customers will need to do to install and set up the new software successfully. The testing process may involve full, partial or upgrades install/uninstall processes. Good software testers will typically perform installation testing when a compiled version of code has reached the final stages of testing or pre-production environment, from which it may or may not progress into final production. By the use of virtual machines, software testers can replicate many different operating systems and environments to fully test installation of software.

Nutritional Supplements – Are They Necessary and Safe?

Are Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements Really Needed?

According to the FDA, “[v]itamins are essential nutrients that contribute to a healthy life” and according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, many people consume more calories than they need without taking in recommended amounts of a number of nutrients. This suggests that we need to evaluate our eating habits as well as consider nutritional supplements in order to achieve the recommended levels of nutrient intake.

Numerous reports suggest that the average American diet contains too much saturated fat, processed sugars and lacks the full compliment of 13 vitamins that are essential to human body functions. We ingest too much “bad” stuff and not enough “good” stuff. In addition to this, doctors may also recommend nutritional supplements for certain health problems, if you eat a vegetarian or vegan diet or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding (American Academy of Family Physicians – AAFP). The 13 essential vitamins are A, C, D, E, K, and B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate).

Are There Risks Associated with Taking Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements?

Quality nutritional supplements manufactured in accordance with the FDA’s “current Good Manufacturing Practice” (cGMP) are believed to be safe; however, excessive or inappropriate use may have side effects or not produce the desired results. The body handles vitamins differently depending on whether they are Water-soluble or fat-soluble.

Water-soluble vitamins (Vitamin C and Vitamin B) are easily absorbed by the body and are not stored in large amounts. Excessive amounts above what is needed are removed by the kidneys and passed through the urine. Taking too much of these vitamins generally result in a waste of money but may also cause side effects such as:

  • Vitamin B-3 (niacin): Flushing, redness of the skin and upset stomach.
  • Vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine): Nerve damage to the limbs, which may cause numbness, trouble walking, and pain.
  • Vitamin C (ascorbic acid): Upset stomach, kidney stones and increased iron absorption.
  • Folic Acid (folate): Masking of B-12 deficiency, especially in older adults, which is a condition that can cause nerve damage.

Fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K) are absorbed into the body and stored for use as needed. One should be especially careful about not over-doing it with these vitamins. Some of the side effects that may accompany ingesting too much of these vitamins include:

  • Vitamin A – Nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, clumsiness, birth defects, liver problems and possible risk of osteoporosis.
  • Vitamin D: Nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness, weight loss, confusion, heart rhythm problems, deposits of calcium and phosphate in soft tissues.
  • If you take blood thinners, you should talk to your doctor before taking vitamin E or vitamin K pills according to the AAFP.

There are, of course, nutritional supplements other than the essential 13 noted above. These include herbal remedies, amino acids, digestive enzymes, probiotics and various minerals each of which are believed to provide certain benefits to aide the body’s various functions.

How Do I Safely Take Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements?

There are numerous scientific studies as well as anecdotal evidence suggesting specific benefits for each available vitamin and nutritional supplement; however, everyone has unique needs so a health care provider should always be consulted prior to taking any medicine, vitamin or other nutritional supplement in order to determine which ones may be needed and to also discuss any possible adverse interactions with other medications.

Nutritional supplements are called “supplements” for a good reason. They are not intended to replace good dietary habits. They are intended, however, to supplement good eating habits in order to make up for particular nutrients that may be lacking or to address particular issues. An effective nutritional supplement program, along with a healthy diet, are widely believed to help the body in a number of different ways but vitamins and other nutritional supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure diseases or illnesses. Be wary of advertisements that suggest otherwise and always consult your healthcare provider to ensure your nutrition plan has the right balance of healthy foods, vitamins, nutritional supplements and/or any medications that you may require.

According to Vasilios Frankos, Ph.D., Director of FDA’s Division of Dietary Supplement Programs, “Vitamins are not dangerous unless you get too much of them.” So, consume a variety of nutrient-dense foods and beverages within and among the basic food groups while limiting the intake of saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, added sugars, salt, and alcohol. Meet recommended nutrient intakes by adopting proper eating habits and using nutritional supplements as deemed appropriate by your healthcare provider based on your body’s nutrient levels, age, whether you are pregnant or may become pregnant, have dark skin, do not receive sufficient sunlight exposure or meet other criteria requiring supplementation. Following these guidelines and the advice of your healthcare provider should make taking vitamins and nutritional supplements both safe and effective for healthier living.

For additional information about the recommended upper limits of intake (ULs), visit the National Academy of Sciences site at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=6432#toc.

Dressing For Cold Weather Cycling

The most important factor to remember is: layers. Layered clothing will have a much better impact on your body temperature than fewer thicker layers. Layering enables you to have the correct types of fabric for the various functions they need to perform such as waterproofing, heat retention, etc. Layering also provides extra invisible layers of trapped air which help to insulate the body much better than any fabric.Tops
When layering up for cold weather its best to start with a close fitting thermal vest that will wick away moisture but also keep you warm by trapping air close to the body. Secondly is a lighter fitting top that will act as a barrier between your waterproof and the warm inner lining of your vest. The third layer would ideally be a waterproof of some kind. this need to protect not only from above where rain will be piling down but also from below as mud and water is thrown up from the wheels and puddles as you race along on your bike.Bottoms
Even in cold weather some keen cyclists will insist on wearing shorts as it provides much greater range of motion and even in cold weather it’s amazing how warm your legs will stay. If you are going to use cycling shorts though then it’s best to go for a thicker fabric with multiple layers. There are specialised winter shorts in both closer fitting lycra and baggy varieties dependent on your style. It’s generally more comfortable to go for full length or 3/4 length cycling bottoms but if going for full length then it’s always best to go for something with close fitting ankles to ensure they don’t get caught up in the chain during riding.Head
It’s possible to buy woollen and mixed hats for use under cycle helmets that will help to keep the head and ears warm which are vital when going at speed. There’s nothing worse than frosty ears stinging away while you’re trying to ride difficult terrain. For very cold weather then it may be necessary to wear a full face mask as most people will get a very runny nose during the trek and it can be uncomfortable having to sniffle all the time.Hands
Even moderately cold weather will require a good pair of closed finger cycle gloves. Many cyclists will add an extra pair of warm cotton under gloves beneath their main gloves to add an extra layer. the hands get the full brunt of cold air and a reduced circulation of blood. Its been known for less experienced cyclists to get bad frost bite in their fingers during winter rides.When cycling during winter you have to be much more careful and its worth considering your whole biking itinerary from clothing to spares and repairs. Winter cycling puts a lot more stress on your body and your bike so on your first trip out it may be worth taking it cautiously and close to home just to get an idea of the risks involved. For the experienced cyclist you can never overestimate the dangers involved. But don’t let the risks put you off because winter cycling is one of the best, most exhilarating adventures you can have on your bike.

1 / 6123456nextLast