How to write Good Test Cases and Bug Reports

Creating an effective software is the work of an expert. But after days of hard work there might be some problematic areas in a software. If light is thrown upon these areas on time, then the software can be made more user friendly and effective. There lies the importance of writing effective software testing cases and bug reports. As per some experts, such reporting can correct an error before it is known, thus, helping the company to profit more from the software. This is the reason why most of the programmers take the help of software testing companies to get to the point product testing report.
As it is known by now that test cases and bug reports are of utmost importance to programmers so let us take a step further and try to learn the tricks of writing such reports.
Software Test Cases
It is a report that describes the various aspects of a software - its inputs, actions and any problems with response. This report helps programmers to determine whether all the features in a software are working properly or not. Test cases also bring in some sort of standardization to the testing procedure.
There are various levels of test cases written by the software testing companies.

1) The first level of test cases comprise writing basic test cases that can be compiled from the given specifications and documents.
2) In the second level, the writer should try to write about the functionalities of a given application. This is more of a practical stage.
3) The third level involves compiling many test cases to write the test procedure. A maximum of 10 test cases may be taken to make a test procedure.
4) The fourth level strives to make the system automated so that the testers need less time in future while testing any application.
While writing test cases for an application make sure that it covers key areas such as functionality, negatives and boundary values. The cases should be written in easy to understand language and expressions and should be to-the-point.
Bug Reports
Bugs can be quite a distraction for any application. A bug report from a software testing service makes sure that the chances of removing bugs from the application are higher. If a report does not contain information about a bug found then it is likely that the programmer will ignore it. This will hamper the application in the long run.
An effective software bug report should address the following key points:
1) Give a number to each bug. This will help to recognize the bug easily and will allow you to use the automated bug-reporting tool that will show the bug number each time you specify it.
2) Mention the steps on how to reproduce the bug. Skipping any step will lead to problems.
3) Use minimum words to state the problem and its solution (if you have it). Do not be too descriptive and combine many problems at a time.
With a properly documented test case or bug report you are sure to get good value for your hard work. It is also very important to opt for reliable and well-established software testing services.
List of Software Testing Books
1) The art of software testing
Glenford J. Myers, Tom Badgett, Todd M. Thomas, Corey Sandler - Reference - 2004 - 234 pages
2) Effective software testing: 50 specific ways to improve your testing
Elfriede Dustin - Computers - 2002 - 271 pages
3) Software quality approaches: testing, verification, and validation‎
Michael Haug, Eric W. Olsen, Luisa Consolini - Computers - 2001 - 302 pages

4) Introduction to software testing
Paul Ammann, Jeff Offutt - Computers - 2008 - 322 pages

5) Software testing techniques ‎
Boris Beizer - Computers - 2003 - 550 pages

6) Software testing and continuous quality improvement
William E. Lewis - Computers - 2000 - 620 pages

7) Software testing: a craftsman's approach
Paul Jorgensen - Computers - 2002 - 359 pages
8) Software engineering: a practitioner's approach‎
Roger S. Pressman - Computers - 2005 - 880 pages
9) Automated software testing: introduction, management, and performance‎
Elfriede Dustin, Jeff Rashka, John Paul - Computers - 1999 - 575 pages
10) Foundations of Software Testing: ISTQB Certification‎
Dorothy Graham, Erik Van Veenendaal, Isabel Evans, Rex Black - Computers - 2008 - 258 pages
11) Pragmatic Software Testing: Becoming An Effective And Efficient Test
Rex Black - Computers - 2007 - 384 pages

12) A practitioner's guide to software test design‎
Lee Copeland - Computers - 2004 - 294 pages

14) Software testing fundamentals: methods and metrics‎
Marnie L. Hutcheson - Computers - 2003 - 408 pages
15) Software testing in the real world: improving the process‎
Edward Kit, Susannah Finzi - Computers - 1995 - 252 pages
16) Foundations of Software Testing‎
Aditya P. Mathur - Computers - 2008 - 689 pages

17) Software testing techniques: finding the defects that matter‎
Scott Loveland, Geoffrey Miller, Michael Shannon, Richard Prewitt - Computers - 2005 - 362 pages
18) Introducing software testing‎
Louise Tamres - Computers - 2002 - 281 pages
19) A Tester'S Guide To .Net Programming‎
Randal Root, Mary Romero Sweeney - Computers - 2006 - 632 pages
20) The art of software security testing: identifying software security flaws‎
Chris Wysopal, Elfriede Dustin, Dino Dai Zovi - Computers - 2007 - 266 pages
21) Critical testing processes: plan, prepare, perform, perfect‎
Rex Black - Computers - 2004 - 571 pages
22) Software testing: testing across the entire software development life cycle‎
Gerald D. Everett, Raymond McLeod - Computers - 2007 - 261 pages
23) Professional Software Testing With Visual Studio 2005
Tom Arnold, Dominic Hopton, Andy Leonard, Mike Frost - Computers - 2007 - 398 pages
24) Component-based software testing with UML
Hans-Gerhard Gross - Computers - 2005 - 316 pages
25) Software testing‎
Ron Patton - Computers - 2000 - 389 pages
26) Software Testing Foundations: A Study Guide for the Certified Tester Exam‎
Andreas Spillner, Tilo Linz, Hans Schaefer - Computers - 2006 - 266 pages
27) Effective software test automation: developing an automated software testing
Kanglin Li, Mengqi Wu - Computers - 2004 - 408 pages
28) Software Testing and Quality Assurance with It Change Management Transition
Gerard Blokdijk, Ivanka Menken - Computers - 2008 - 116 pages
29) The complete guide to software testing‎
William C. Hetzel - Computers - 1984 - 247 pages
30) Testing and quality assurance for component-based software‎
Jerry Gao, H.-S. J. Tsao, Ye Wu - Computers - 2003 - 439 pages
31) Testing Extreme Programming‎
Lisa Crispin, Tip House - Computers - 2003 - 306 pages

32) Testing object-oriented software: life cycle solutions‎
Imran Bashir, Amrit L. Goel - Computers - 1999 - 209 pages
33) Software quality approaches: testing, verification, and validation‎
Michael Haug, Eric W. Olsen, Luisa Consolini - Computers - 2001 - 302 pages
34) A practical guide to testing object-oriented software
John D. McGregor, David A. Sykes - Computers - 2001 - 393 pages

35) Implementing Automated Software Testing: How to Save Time and Lower Costs
Elfriede Dustin, Thom Garrett, Bernie Gauf - Computers - 2009 - 340 pages
36) Software testing: an ISEB foundation‎
Brian Hambling, Peter Morgan, Angelina Samaroo - Computers - 2007 - 224 pages
37) Code complete: a practical handbook of software construction‎
Steve McConnell - Computers - 1993 - 857 pages
38) Object oriented software testing: a hierarchical approach‎
Shel Siegel, Robert J. Muller - Computers - 1996 - 511 pages

Software Testing Companies
AppLabs

QA InfoTech
EffectiveSoft
BugHuntress QA Lab
ThirdEye (India) Private Limited
Testree
Gateway TestLabs
Pure Testing
QCon
Maveric Systems
QSG - Quality Service Group
Acutest

MindTree
QArea
Icreon
CresTech
Stylus Systems Pvt. Ltd
Olive e-Business Pvt. Ltd
Thinksoft - Financial Software Testing Company
See Also

Software Testing Myths and Facts
Software Testing - Latest News
Software Testing Books

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