Question

Can you recommend a book on testing for someone who would like to get into QA, but has absolutely no exposure to the terms and techniques of testing? Something more practical than theoretical. Something more geared to web testing.

My friend has a person in Support who would like to make a career change to QA, and asked me for a list of books. To be honest, I'm having a hard time coming up with a title I would recommend. The books I originally learned from are rather dated, and pre-web.

Most of the folks here are test professionals, so it might be hard to think back to when you didn't know testing or QA. But perhaps you hire beginners into your team, and supply them with reading materials?

Answer 1

Testing Computer Software, 2nd Edition by Kaner et. al. It's a classic that should be on many people's short list of testing books for beginners.

Available through Amazon link below...

http://www.amazon.com/Testing-Computer-Software-2nd-Kaner/dp/0471358460/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257301621&sr=8-1

Answer 2

It depends ... some books resonate with people and some don't.

I'd recommend starting with learning some general test ideas, and leaving the web technologies and web specific attacks for later.

My favorite 3 general testing books for a beginner:

1. A Practitioner's Guide to Software Test Design, by Lee Copeland
2. Testing Computer Software, 2nd Edition by Cem Kaner, Jack Falk, and Hung Q. Nguyen
3. How to Break Software: A Practical Guide to Testing by James A. Whittaker

Reasons? #1 is an amazing book for test design, #2 is comprehensive and a classic, and #3 shows the joy of being a tester without being pedantic.

Criticisms? #1 is too theoretic, #2 is too old, and #3 helps you find trivial bugs.

Answer 3

Testing Computer Software is a good overview of testing concepts, but in my opinion is a little lite on practical vs. theory, and some of the info is quite outdated.

IMHO a good first book for a beginner tester who is focused on web testing is "The Web Testing Handbook" by Steven Splaine and Stefan P. Jaskiel. http://www.amazon.com/Web-Testing-Handbook-Steven-Splaine/dp/0970436300

Another good book is Hung Q. Nguyen's book "Testing Applications on the Web." http://www.amazon.com/Testing-Applications-Web-Planning-Internet-Based/dp/0471201006

Answer 4

Good recommendations so far.

I would also recommend Lessons Learned in Software Testing (Kaner, Bach, Pettichord)

This is one that you will likely pick up over and over again throughout your testing career. Good for people starting out and holds its value for more experienced campaigners.

Answer 5

I do not think it matters if the book is old or pre web the basic fundamentals of software testing still apply.

The one book I would recommend every tester read is

The Art of Software Testing by Glenford Myers, this book is the one that got me into software testing and I still go back and read now and again to realize how good a book it is.

This book was first published in the late 70s and still has relevance to testing today.

Answer 6

The Cem Kaner book above is a classic. I also highly recommend "Agile Testing: A Practical Guide for Testers and Agile Teams" by Lisa Crispin and Janet Gregory. http://www.amazon.com/Agile-Testing-Practical-Guide-Testers/dp/0321534468 Also recommended is "Bridging the Communication Gap: Specification by Example and Agile Acceptance Testing" by Gojko Adzic. (I can't post a link to this one - find it on amazon or wherever fine books are sold!)

Answer 7

Well, IMHO, the most fundamental book of testing should be:

The Art of Software Testing, Second Edition http://www.amazon.com/Art-Software-Testing-Second/dp/0471469122/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263528914&sr=8-1

Although it looks a little bit old, but I thought everyone who was new to QA area should have a look.

Answer 8

"It's one of those books where I don't think you're really supposed to agree with everything."

Hi, Alan.

I'm confused; can you help me out? Can you explain the benefit of a book where you are supposed to agree with everything? Isn't one of the first responsbilities of a tester to question things, think for him(her)self, and evaluate both sides of an issue?

---Michael B.

Answer 9

I would recommend this one to both the New Guy and his manager(s):

Perfect Software: And Other Illusions about Testing by Gerald M. Weinberg.

Not much techincal details but more about realistic expectations and how to address testing (e.g. why you can't do exhaustive testing and why paying the testers per bug might not be a good idea). Some of it might seem obvious, at least if you have been in the business for a while, but I think there is a lot of very good advice in there for everyone.