Next: Performance Testing
Up: Black Box or Functional
Previous: Function Testing
The difference between function testing and system testing is that now
the focus is on the whole application
and its environment
. Therefore the program has to be given completely.
This does not mean that now single functions of the whole program are
tested, because this would be too redundant. The main goal
is rather to demonstrate the discrepancies of the product from its
requirements and its documentation. In other words,
this again includes the question, ``Did we build the right product?''
and not just, ``Did we build the product right?''
However, system testing does not only deal with this more economical
problem, it also contains some aspects that are orientated on the word
``system'' . This means that those tests should be done in
the environment for which the program was designed,
like a mulituser network or whetever. Even security
guide lines have to be included. Once again, it is beyond doubt that
this test cannot be done completely, and nevertheless, while this is one
of the most incomplete test methods, it is one of the most
important
.
Ingo Melzer
Mon Aug 5 15:12:01 MET DST 1996