Development & Testing

The data structures are now designed and now we can move on to the next stage. Let's start with "development". After the data structures have been designed, it's time to create them using the software or programming language recommended by the analyst.

 

Now that the system is created, what if things don't work out. What if the created system failed to meet it's goals. One thing for sure, it won't look good in the programmer's resumé. This is why the system has to be tested thoroughly before being implemented. So, how to test it?

First of all, a test plan has to be produced by the analyst. This plan will contain the test data and the expected ones to be produced by the system. The analyst will then note the 'actual' data. Those data or the ones 'actually' produced by the system. The analyst will also make comments on the data produced and how they differ from the expected results.

Going deep into test data, it is of three types:-

1) Normal Data: The data valid & acceptable by the system.

2) Abnormal Data: The data invalid & rejected by the system.

3) Extreme Data: Note that this type of test data is only found where a range of data is input. Extreme data is the either the maximum or minimum data.

Don't go anywhere, just not yet. There is another way of testing a system and that is by using the live data. This is the data that has been used in the existing system, It will be used because the outputs are already known.