How Many Pairwise Tests Required (In the Face of Combinatorial Explosions)

Posted on May 22, 2018 by John Hunter

This webcast continuing from where, Combinatorial Explosions Explained (Software Testing Example), left off.

This video shows how well designed test plans can achieve full pairwise testing coverage with a very small number of tests. And as the total number of permutations increase exponentially as more parameters and parameter values are added properly designed test plans can provide full pairwise coverage with very few tests.

This is not possible for a person to manually do but using the right algorithms to create a test plans can provide amazing benefits.

Combinatorial Explosions Explained (Software Testing Example)

Posted on April 11, 2018 by John Hunter

It is impractical in many situations for testers to test every possible permutation of software tests.

In this video Justin Hunter, the founder of Hexawise, explains how combinatorial explosions impact software testing. He explains how to quickly calculate the total possible number of permutations exist in simplified systems under test using several examples.

The video ends with a reference to a continuation of this discussion in the next video: How Many Pairwise Tests Required (In the Face of Combinatorial Explosions).

2 Minute Introduction to Hexawise Software Testing Solution

Posted on January 23, 2017 by John Hunter

This short video gives a quick overview of the Hexawise software as a service solution and a very high level overview of software testing with a focus on interactions between parameters/factors.

Learn more about pairwise and combinatorial software testing practices: Introducing the Hexawise Coverage Matrix! – How to Pack More Coverage Into Fewer Software Tests – Create a Risk-based Testing Plan With Extra Coverage on Higher Priority Areas

Too Many Tests

Posted on September 8, 2016 by Matthew Dengler

Do you have too many software tests to execute, and not enough time in which to execute them? Hexawise can help.

Too Much to Test and Not Enough Time to Test It All

Posted on February 28, 2013 by John Hunter

beginner video Justin Hunter’s presentation at the 12th annual international software testing conference in Bangalore, India, December 2012.

The techniques discussed focus on how to reduce the amount of time spent selecting and documenting test scripts, reduce the amount of tests needed for execution by creating unusually powerful tests and thus increase the thoroughness of software test suites.

The talk explored the significant risks, for users, companies and employees of failing to catch software application failures before release (for example, looking at releasing Apple Maps with significant failures). And discussed how combinatorial (also orthogonal array or pairwise) software testing can be used to create test plans that test a large number of parameters/factors quickly.

The slides from the presentation:

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Detailed Example for Creating Pairwise Test Plans Using Hexawise

Posted on November 19, 2012 by John Hunter

beginner video

This is an 8 part series of videos showing, in detail, various steps that can be used in creating a pairwise software test plan. Many test plans will not require many of these optional steps. Most of the videos have run times of 1-4 minutes.

The series of videos looks at how to create a set of functional test cases for customers purchasing products on Amazon.com using the Hexawise, a tool to create software test plans with pairwise and combinatorial test coverage.

Video 1 of 8, getting started creating up a new test plan.

Video 2 of 8, marking invalid pairs. This allows a test planner to avoid pairs that are not sensible – for example, if a certain product is not available for payment with a check (perhaps a service that requires a monthly payment). Hexawise will then avoid creating any test conditions that contained the invalid pairs that were identified.

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How to Think about Test Inputs in Software Testing

Posted on October 26, 2012 by John Hunter

beginner video

This video provides practical tips for selecting appropriate test inputs for pairwise and combinatorial software test design.

Our experience shows as software testers begin to use pairwise test design strategies selecting the correct input parameters to test is often a bit of a struggle. This video will help testers get up to speed with designing pairwise software test plans effectively.