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+===================================================+
+===================================================+
+======= Testing Techniques Newsletter (TTN) =======+
+======= ON-LINE EDITION =======+
+======= March 1994 =======+
+===================================================+
+===================================================+
TESTING TECHNIQUES NEWSLETTER (TTN), On-Line Edition, is E-Mailed
monthly to support the Software Research, Inc. (SR) user community and
provide information of general use to the world software testing commun-
ity.
(c) Copyright 1994 by Software Research, Inc. Permission to copy and/or
re-distribute is granted to recipients of the TTN On-Line Edition pro-
vided that the entire document/file is kept intact and this copyright
notice appears with it.
TRADEMARKS: CAPBAK, X11 Virtual Display System, X11virtual, and the SR
logo are trademarks of Software Research, Inc. All other systems are
either trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective com-
panies.
========================================================================
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
o Virtually Free Offer: X11 Virtual Display System
o 7th International Software Quality Week (QW '94)
o 1st International Conference on Software Testing, Reliability and
Quality Assurance
o German National Research Center for Computer Science (GMD)
o Technical Articles of Interest
o Calendar of Events
o TTN Submittal Policy
o TTN Subscription Information
========================================================================
---- VIRTUALLY FREE SOFTWARE: X11 VIRTUAL DISPLAY SYSTEM ----
========================================================================
The X11 Virtual Display System (X11virtual) is an exciting new technol-
ogy from Software Research (SR) that allows you to run multiple copies
of GUI applications and scripts in the background, just as if each one
was connected to a separate screen. This technology was developed for
use with the SR X11-based capture/playback tool, CAPBAK/X, for load gen-
eration from a single workstation; X11virtual can be used with SR's
testing tools, or any other vendors' testing tools. It can also be used
by anyone wishing to put a screen-intensive application into the back-
ground, freeing the screen for other uses.
X11virtual is based on the X11R5 server and is available through this
offer on the following platforms:
> SUN/SPARC SunOS 4.1.x
> SUN/SPARC Solaris 2.2.x
> Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI) under IRIX 5.x,
> RS/6000 under AIX 3.2.x.
--- AVAILABILITY ---
Because of its general applicability, SR is offering the X11virtual
software *free* to all requesters between March 15, 1994 and April 30,
1994. The software has no protection, so it can be used on any system.
There is a $45 media (QIC-150 cartridge or 4mm DAT), copying, postage
and handling fee payable by check or money order prior to shipment.
--- ORDERING ---
To obtain your copy of X11virtual, SR requires only that users fill out
a one page questionaire and pay $45.00 for materials and shipping.
Requests for the X11virtual Registration Form are made to:
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-= Software Research, Inc. =-
=-= ATTN: X11virtual Registration =-=
=-= 901 Minnesota Street =-=
=-= San Francisco, CA 94107 USA USA =-=
=-= FAX: [1] (415) 550-3030 =-=
-= E-mail: virtual@soft.com =-
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
--- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ---
Address E-mail requests for further information about the X11 Virtual
Display System to "virtual@soft.com".
========================================================================
7th INTERNATIONAL SOFTWARE QUALITY WEEK
Conference Theme: MAINTAINING COMPETITIVENESS
May 17-20, 1994
The Sheraton Palace Hotel, San Francisco, California
========================================================================
--- CONFERENCE THEME ---
In today's marketplace, organizations are faced with the difficult chal-
lenge of developing and delivering complex software systems, while con-
tinually improving predictability and reducing the cycle time between
releases. Companies that can master quality and productivity issues
will dominate their markets into the next century. The theme for the
7th International Software Quality Week (QW'94), "Maintaining Competi-
tiveness", reflects that goal by focusing on advances in software test
technology, quality control, risk management, software safety, and test
automation techniques. The goal is to help organizations implement
manageable, well-defined, repeatable quality processes.
--- CONFERENCE STRUCTURE ---
QW'94 has a pre-conference tutorial day and a complete three-day general
conference with keynote sessions, mini-tutorials, and regular technical
papers tracks. There are two special debates, a vendors' presentation
track, and an expanded two-day vendor exhibit featuring top suppliers of
Computer Aided Software Test (CAST) products.
QW'94 speakers include industry experts, academics and experienced prac-
titioners in QA/QC/Testing to provide the methodologies and advanced
automated software test methods that promise major advances in system
quality and reliability. Key speakers and their QW'94's topics are:
* Dr. Boris Beizer (ANALYSIS) "On Being Competitive"
* Mr. Bill Bently (Miles) "Capturing Requirements"
* Mr. Robert Binder (Independent Consultant) "Testing Object-Oriented
Systems: State of the Art, State of the Practice"
* Dr. Leo Egan (Egan Systems) "Simplifying ISO 9000-3"
* Mr. Tom Gilb (Independent Consultant) "Software Inspections"
* Dr. Warren Harrison (Univ. of Oregon) and Dr. Paul Oman (Univ. of
Idaho) "Using Metrics to Guide Testing Software QA"
* Dr. Herb Hecht (SoHaR) "Software Dependability in Distributed Sys-
tems"
* Mr. Hans-Juergen Kugler (K&M Technologies) "What's on in Europe?
European Software Quality Initiatives"
* Dr. Micheal Mac-an-Airchinnigh (Univ. of Dublin) "Formal Methods,
Requirements and Testing"
* Dr. Monika Muellerburg (GMD) "Why Systematic Testing is Difficult:
The Problem of the Sample"
* Dr. John Musa (Bell Laboratories) "Software Reliability Engineering
Practice"
* Mr. Robert Poston (IDE) and Mr. George Symons (SR) "An Integrated
Solution to Specification-Based Testing"
* Ms. Alka Shah-Jarvis (Charles Schwab) "Applying Software Quality:
ISO 900-3"
* Mr. Shel Siegel (Objective Quality) "Where Are the Software Quality
Leaders and What Are They Doing?"
* Mr. Bill Silver (Software Quality World) "The TQO Software Measure-
ment Paradigm"
* Mr. Nicholas Zvegintzov (Software Maintenance News) "Analysis,
Design, and Verification of Software Change"
QW'94 has one goal: To create an on-going publicly accessible platform
where researchers and Quality Assurance and Software Test Professionals,
as well as users at every level, can communicate and exchange experience
and technology.
--- REGISTRATION ---
For information on the conference or to receive a registration package
E-mail your request to "qw@soft.com", phone SR/Institute at [1] (415)
550-3020, or FAX SR/Institute at [1] (415) 550-3030.
========================================================================
1ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
SOFTWARE TESTING, RELIABILITY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
December 20-22, 1994
Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi, INDIA
--- CALL FOR PARTICIPATION ---
=======================================================================
--- CONFERENCE OBJECTIVE ---
This conference is intended to provide a forum for researchers and prac-
titioners from industries and universities to discuss problems and solu-
tions in the area of software quality. Quality in software can be
achieved through a combination of several means. The focus will be on
the problems and methods in software testing and reliability estimation
as used for assuring high quality software. The international nature of
the conference is due primarily to the worldwide connections that many
Asian countries have developed in the field of software development.
The first conference is being organized in India, as it is fast becoming
a strong exporter of software to the international community. To
enhance the growth of this segment of the Indian economy, both the
Indian government and the private sector have taken several significant
steps. The government has established software technology parks at key
centers in India. Several private companies have established software
development centers in export zones. These and several other initia-
tives in India make it clear that software development and export will
play a key role in the Indian economy over the next many years. This
conference is expected to become a yearly event held in various Asian
countries.
--- SUBMISSION INFORMATION ---
Original research papers are solicited in the following areas:
- New methods for software testing.
- Experience with methods for software testing.
- Methods for reliability estimation.
- Relationship between testing and reliability.
- Operational profile measurement and accuracy.
- Industrial experience with reliability and quality in defense,
energy, space, telecommunications and other industries.
- Relation of software design to quality and reliability.
- Data collection issues in reliability estimation.
- Software standards.
Submit five copies of the paper (limited to 10 double-space pages in 10
point size) including title, name, affiliation, and address for communi-
cation in English to either of the following:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Professor Aditya P. Mathur | Professor Bharat B. Madan
Dept. of Computer Sciences | Dept. of Computer Science
Purdue University | and Engineering
W. Lafayette, IN 47907-1398 | Indian Inst. of Technology
USA | New Delhi 110 016 INDIA
E-mail: apm@cs.purdue.edu | E-mail: bbm@cse.iitd.ernet.in
Phone: +1 (317) 494-7822 | Phone: +91-11-665895
FAX: +1 (317) 494-0739 | FAX: +91-11-6862037
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--- IMPORTANT DATES ---
May 9, 1994: Manuscripts Due
July 18, 1994: Decisions Mailed
October 18, 1994: Camera Ready Copies Due
Accepted papers will appear in the conference proceedings.
For further information regarding this conference, either E-mail
stqra@cs.purdue.edu or contact Prof. Aditya P. Mathur or Porf. B.B.
Madan at the addresses given above.
========================================================================
---- GERMAN NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE ----
========================================================================
The German National Research Center for Computer Science (GMD) works
primarily on software quality and productivity issues. In particular,
the GMD is working on software process programming and testing, software
evaluation schemes (related to ISO 9000 and 9126), software measurement,
quality and productivity modeling. The GMD also offers consultancy and
Tutorials on these subjects. Three guides to software evaluation pro-
duced by the GMD ("Evaluator's Guide", "Evaluation Module Development
Guide", and "Guide to Documenting an Evaluation Mode") are now discussed
by working groups in the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) as becoming a standard.
--- TUTORIAL OBJECTIVES ---
The overall aim of GMD tutorials is to make the attendees aware of the
development of software technology and to provide practical approaches
to the quality problem. Utilizing the results and findings of several
European projects on software quality and productivity, the tutorials
especially address the needs of software managers and software develop-
ers. Tutorial levels range from introductory through advanced, with
advanced topics discussed in detail if requested by participants.
--- TUTORIAL CONTENT ---
The methods and tools for the evaluation of software products and soft-
ware processes are discussed in the tutorial in detail. Particular
emphasis is given to the identification and selection of software
characteristics and metrics, as well as to the handling of evaluation
methods and tools. A practitioner's approach to identifying and
correctly applying the appropriate software metric will be demonstrated.
Advantages and limitations of inspections, testing and verification are
discussed, in order to make the attendees familiar with the maturity of
evaluation techniques.
The Capability and Maturity Model of the Software Engineering Institute
(SEI), the evaluation and certification procedure according to DIN 66
285, and the ISO 9000 series are considered as the most relevant stan-
dards or defacto standards being applied today. The experience gained
in the application of these standards as well as the results of European
initiatives indicates a need for a change towards a "quality first"
attitude. Emphasis is particularly given to the EVALUATION METHOD, which
comprises the following five steps:
1. Analysis of condition and constraints.
2. Specification of the evaluation.
3. Design of the evaluation.
4. Conducting the evaluation.
5. Reporting on the evaluation.
--- INSTRUCTOR ---
Tutorials are presented by Dr. Hans-Ludwig Hausen, GMD Senior Researcher
and Project Manager. Dr. Hausen has 15 years experience as a project
manager, consultant and lecturer on Computer Aided Software Engineering
(CASE), software quality assurance, and software process modeling and
tailoring. Dr. Hausen has had articles on software engineering environ-
ments and software quality and productivity published in approximately
30 publications,
For further information contact:
Gesellschaft fur Mathematik und Datenverarbeitung (GMD)
Schloss Birlinghoven
D-53757 Sankt Augustin GERMANY
Phone: +49-2241-14-3224/3164
FAX: +49-2241-14-3006
E-mail: hausen@gmd.DE
========================================================================
------------->>> TECHNICAL ARTICLES OF INTEREST <<<-------------
========================================================================
The following articles address quality assurance or software testing
techniques that may be of interest:
o "Quality Assurance Buyers Guide," Larry O'Brien, Software Develop-
ment, March 1994.
o "Ct Coverage -- Initial Results," by W.G. Bentley and E.F. Miller,
Software Quality Journal, (Vol 2, Pages 29-47, 1993).
========================================================================
------------------->>> CALENDAR OF EVENTS <<<-------------------
========================================================================
The following is a partial list of upcoming events of interest. ("o"
indicates Software Research will participate in these events)
o March 23-25, 1994: UniForum
Moscone Center, San Francisco, California
Contact: Chip Zaborowski
IDG World Expo
111 Speen Street, P.O. Box 9107, Framingham, MA 01701-9107;
Phone: 508-879-6700; FAX: 508-872-8237
+ April 10-15, 1994: 6th Annual Software Technology Conference
Salt Lake City, Utah
Contact: Dallas Holmes
Utah State University, Conference and Institute Division
Logan, UT 84322; Phone: 801-750-1692
o April 26-27, 1994: Automated Software Test and Evaluation
Washington, D.C.
Contact: James Heil (Mitre Corp.)
Phone: 908-389-6719
o May 8-12, 1994: Software Testing Analysis and Review (STAR '94)
Alexandria, Virginia
Contact: Carol Staurt
SQE
Phone: 800-423-8378; FAX: 904-268-0733
+ May 16-17, 1994: ICSE '94
Sarento, ITALY
Contact: Richard Taylor
Phone: 714-856-6429; FAX: 714-856-4056
o May 17-20, 1994: 7th Annual International Software Quality Week
San Francisco, California
Contact: Rita Bral
Software Research Inc.
Phone: 415-550-3020; FAX: 415-550-3030;
E-mail: qw@soft.com
+ June 7-9, 1994: Assessment of Quality Software Development
Washington, D.C.
Contact: Ez Nahouraii
Industry Education Counseling
Phone: 408-265-1960
o June 13-16, 1994: USPDI '94
Washington, D.C.
Contact: Martha Woods
USPDI,Inc.
Phone: 301-445-4405
+ June 15-17, 1994: 24th Annual International Symposium on
Fault-Tolerant Computing
Austin,Texas
Contact: Billene Mercer
Phone: 512-327-4012; FAX: 512-327-8132
========================================================================
========================================================================
------------>>> TTN SUBMITTAL POLICY <<<------------
========================================================================
The TTN On-Line Edition is forwarded on the 15th of each month to sub-
scribers via InterNet. To have your event listed in an upcoming issue,
please e-mail a description of your event or Call for Papers or Partici-
pation to "ttn@soft.com".
The TTN On-Line submittal policy is as follows:
o Submission deadlines indicated in "Calls for Papers" should provide
at least a 1-month lead time from the TTN On-Line issue date. For
example, submission deadlines for "Calls for Papers" in the January
issue of TTN On-Line would be for February and beyond.
o Length of submitted items should not exceed 68 lines (one page).
o Publication of submitted items is determined by Software Research,
Inc., and may be edited as necessary.
========================================================================
========================================================================
----------------->>> TTN SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION <<<-----------------
========================================================================
To request a FREE subscription or submit articles, please E-mail
"ttn@soft.com". For subscriptions, please use the keywords "Request-
TTN" or "subscribe" in the Subject line of your E-mail header. To have
your name added to the subscription list for the quarterly hard-copy
version of the TTN -- which contains additional information beyond the
monthly electronic version -- include your name, company, and postal
address.
To cancel your subscription, include the phrase "unsubscribe" or
"UNrequest-TTN" in the Subject line.
Note: To order back copies of the TTN On-Line (August 1993 onward),
please specify the month and year when E-mailing requests to
"ttn@soft.com".
TESTING TECHNIQUES NEWSLETTER
Software Research, Inc.
901 Minnesota Street
San Francisco, CA 94107 USA
Phone: (415) 550-3020
Toll Free: (800) 942-SOFT
FAX: (415) 550-3030
E-mail: ttn@soft.com
## End ##