Support for manual testing processes

While some software testing will always be manual, elements of automation practices can be readily applied to any software quality assurance environment. Original Software is delivering active support for manual practices through its TestDrive application suite.

In particular, manual testing practices will see an increase in productivity and reduced errors by automating test step execution, content verification, database verification, error reproduction, defect creation and documentation.

TestDrive delivers active support for manual testing using industry-proven capabilities such as the company's BusySense, self-healing and code-free innovations. By enabling manual testers to use these functions with or without full automation, Original Software provides a small footprint, quick-start learning curve for quality professionals within any IT organisation to deliver reliable applications to help their organisations stay competitive.

Independent testing consultancy Acutest has contributed to a successful launch of specialist mortgage lender Edeus, whose business proposition is dominated by technology.

With their use of online applications and processes, Edeus is challenging the speed of processing in the mortgage industry. Acutest was brought in to ensure that the systems and processes work from end to end.

John Nixon, COO of Edeus, says: "Our expert systems are extremely complex and the Acutest consultants quickly got to grips with them. Their approach ensured we made best use of the testing time available and fitted well with our agile implementation approach. Initial trading has been extremely brisk and the proposition has been very well received."

Application testing is emerging as a major bottleneck. Many corporations test code in private labs, but no matter how many PCs and servers they deploy, it's difficult to fully model the real-world environment. How can development shops stay ahead of the QA curve when supporting multiple versions of software for growing audiences running mixed environments?

The answer is virtualisation. Surgient Virtual Lab Management Application 5.0 lets corporate developers test their applications in an environment that mirrors the corporate network, including running against heterogeneous systems such as Windows, Unix and Linux.

The platform supports "thousands of virtual servers," the company says. It can also be used to consolidate an existing lab in much the same way that production server environments have been consolidated via virtualization.