The Psychology of a Developer compared to a Tester.

Developer testing is only to make sure the software works.? A developer mindset are more interested in designing and building solutions than in contemplating what might be wrong with those solutions.?

• The developer view of testing is to show that the system:

1.??????Does what it should.

2.??????Doesn’t do what It shouldn’t.

3.??????The goal is to show that its working.

4.??????Success is achieved when the system works.

5.??????Which means easy test cases.

Results: Faults left in.?

-?????????The Tester needs to take a different view, a different mindset: What if it isn’t? What could go wrong? Will it work under all circumstances?

-?????????Tester mindset includes: Professional pessimism, Curiosity, a critical eye, attention to detail, motivation for good and positive communication and relationships.

• The tester view of testing is to show that the system:

1.??????Does what it shouldn’t.

2.??????Doesn’t do what it should.

3.??????The goal is to find faults.

4.??????Success is achieved when the system fails.

5.??????Which means we have difficult test cases.

Result: having fewer faults left in the system.?

Imagine we have a field in a form that accepts a value between 20 and 50

The developer might try: 10, 40 and 60.

The tester will think: How can we enter 40 in the field and trick the system not to accept that value? How can we enter 10 in the field and make the system accept it??