The W Model: Strengthening the Bond Between Development and Test

[article]
Summary:

Based on the Vmodel, this paper describes a model that shows how the tasks for testing relate to the tasks in the development model. This testing model-the W-model-further clarifies the priority of the tasks and the dependence between the development and testing activities.

In software development, 30 to 40 percent of all software activities are testing related. That is why it is critical to launch test activities at the beginning of the project rather than after coding is completed. While new software development models such as the Rational Unified  Process and eXtreme Programming (XP) continue to be popular with practitioners, the V-model has gained particularly wide acceptance.

Based on the Vmodel, this paper describes a model that shows how the tasks for testing relate to the tasks in the development model. This testing model-the W-model-further clarifies the priority of the tasks and the dependence between the development and testing activities.

Though as simple as the V-model, the W-model makes the importance of testing and the ordering of the individual testing activities clear. It also clarifies that testing and debugging are not the same thing.

About the author

StickyMinds is a TechWell community.

Through conferences, training, consulting, and online resources, TechWell helps you develop and deliver great software every day.