BKSWTSFD.RVW   20071115

"Software Testing Foundations", Andreas Spillner/Tilo Linz/Hans
Schaefer, 2007, 1-933952-08-3, U$44.95
%A   Andreas Spillner spillner@informatik.hs-bremen.de
%A   Tilo Linz tilo.linz@imbus.de
%A   Hans Schaefer hans.schaefer@ieee.org
%C   26 West Mission St, Suite 3, Santa Barbara, CA   93101-2432
%D   2007
%G   1-933952-08-3 978-1-933952-08-6
%I   Rocky Nook Inc.
%O   U$44.95 805-687-8727 fax 805-687-2204 joan@rockynook.com
%O  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1933952083/robsladesinterne
  http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1933952083/robsladesinte-21
%O   http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/1933952083/robsladesin03-20
%O   Audience i- Tech 1 Writing 1 (see revfaq.htm for explanation)
%P   272 p.
%T   "Software Testing Foundations, Second Edition"

This book is intended to assist candidates who are writing the exam
for the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB)
Certified Tester.

Chapter one stresses the importance of software and software quality,
and briefly outlines the structure of the ISTQB.  Chapter two contains
a very generic overview of the terms and process of software testing. 
The activities appear to be restricted to submission of test data or
cases, even though issues such as usability and maintainability are
discussed in relation to software quality.  (In addition, some of the
material is questionable: the non-iterative waterfall software
development model is illustrated with a graphic showing iteration.) 
Testing related to the various stages of the software development life
cycle is noted in chapter three.  The content is fairly limited,
without the scope and analysis of a work such as Gary McGraw's
"Software Security: Building Security In" (cf. BKSWSBSI.RVW).  "Static
Analysis," in chapter four, appears to be related to code analysis, or
code review.  However, while there is much discussion of roles,
meetings, and processes, there is little specificity of what is
actually being "inspected manually."  (The brief mentions of code
analysis tools supports the idea that source code review is the
subject of the text.)  Chapter five, entitled "Dynamic Analysis,"
provides more detail than did chapter one on actual test design and
techniques.  The text is quite formal and larded with jargon, though,
and clearer introductions of terms would definitely assist readers who
have not had formal training in the field.  Test management is the
topic of chapter six: a significant portion of the material repeats
from earlier sections of the book.  Some types of testing tools are
briefly described in chapter seven.

Presumably the book reflects the ISTQB certification.  If so, the
certification itself may be of limited utility.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 2007   BKSWTSFD.RVW   20071115