This book presents a new paradigm of software testing by emphasizing the role of critical thinking, system thinking and rationality as the most important skills for the tester. It thus approaches software testing from a different perspective than in past literature, as the vast majority of books describe testing in the context of specific tools, automation, documentation, particular test design techniques or test management. In addition, the book proposes a novel meta-approach for designing effective test strategies, which is based on recent advances in psychology, economics, system sciences and logic. Chapter 1 starts by introducing the fundamental ideas underlying software testing. Chapter 2 then describes meta-strategies in software testing, i.e. general approaches that can be adapted to many different situations that a software tester encounters. Next, Chapter 3 presents the concept of Thinking-Driven Testing (TDT). This approach utilizes the concepts discussed in the two previous chapters and introduces the main ideas that underlie a reasonable and optimal approach to software testing. Chapter 4 builds on this basis and proposes a specific approach to testing, called TQED, that makes it possible to increase creativity in the context of delivering effective, optimal test ideas. Chapter 5 provides an overview of different types of testing techniques in order to understand the fundamental concepts of test design, while Chapter 6 details various pitfalls a tester may encounter and that can originate from a wide range of testing process areas. Lastly, Chapter 7 puts all this into practice, as it contains several exercises that will help testers develop a number of crucial skills: logical thinking and reasoning, thinking out of the box, creativity, counting and estimating, and analytical thinking. By promoting critical, rational and creative thinking, this book invites readers to re-examine common assumptions regarding software testing and shows them how to become professional testers who bring added value to their company.

This book is an excellent, helpful and up-to-date resource for all candidates preparing for the ISTQB Foundation Level certification exam based on the new Foundation Level 2018 Syllabus. Although there are plenty of sample questions and information related to the Foundation Level exam on the web, there are two problems with these: Firstly, most of them will soon be outdated, as the old syllabus and exams are going to be retracted in June 2019. Secondly, much of what is available is of poor quality, since many of the sample questions do not follow the strict ISTQB examination rules. This book stands out from other ISTQB-related works through a number of special features: Topicality: The material complies with the latest version of the Foundation Level syllabus published in 2018. Quality and originality: The exam questions are original, not redundant, of high quality, fully aligned with the ISTQB exam requirements and have not been published before. Huge amount of material: It includes 5 full sample exams (200 questions in total) designed in accordance with the ISTQB exam rules, and with the appropriate distribution of questions regarding the learning objectives and K-levels. Well-thought-out sample questions: The questions not only appropriately cover the corresponding learning objectives (LOs), but also to show the typical pitfalls. Diversity: The questions from various sample exams related to the same LO are diversified, that is, each of them points out different aspects of a given LO. This is an excellent method for better and more effective learning and preparing for the exam. Comprehensive, intelligible explanations: All answers are justified and there are detailed and easy-to-understand explanations not only of why a given answer is correct, but also why all the others are wrong. A lot of bonus material: The book includes a great bonus pack: chapters that explain the white-box and black-box test techniques in a detailed way, a set of exercises on test techniques and the detailed solutions to them, and much more.

This book presents a new paradigm of software testing by emphasizing the role of critical thinking, system thinking and rationality as the most important skills for the tester. It thus approaches software testing from a different perspective than in past literature, as the vast majority of books describe testing in the context of specific tools, automation, documentation, particular test design techniques or test management. In addition, the book proposes a novel meta-approach for designing effective test strategies, which is based on recent advances in psychology, economics, system sciences and logic. Chapter 1 starts by introducing the fundamental ideas underlying software testing. Chapter 2 then describes meta-strategies in software testing, i.e. general approaches that can be adapted to many different situations that a software tester encounters. Next, Chapter 3 presents the concept of Thinking-Driven Testing (TDT). This approach utilizes the concepts discussed in the two previous chapters and introduces the main ideas that underlie a reasonable and optimal approach to software testing. Chapter 4 builds on this basis and proposes a specific approach to testing, called TQED, that makes it possible to increase creativity in the context of delivering effective, optimal test ideas. Chapter 5 provides an overview of different types of testing techniques in order to understand the fundamental concepts of test design, while Chapter 6 details various pitfalls a tester may encounter and that can originate from a wide range of testing process areas. Lastly, Chapter 7 puts all this into practice, as it contains several exercises that will help testers develop a number of crucial skills: logical thinking and reasoning, thinking out of the box, creativity, counting and estimating, and analytical thinking. By promoting critical, rational and creative thinking, this book invites readers to re-examine common assumptions regarding software testing and shows them how to become professional testers who bring added value to their company.