Applying Testing Concepts

Moodle Link

Goal:
This assignment asks you to apply key ideas from the chapter on software testing by analyzing two case studies. You will first write your own answers to a series of questions, then use an AI assistant (e.g., ChatGPT) to explore alternative answers or perspectives. You will turn in both your original responses and your reflections after using AI.

Instructions:

  1. Carefully review the textbook chapter and class slides on software testing.
  2. Read the two case studies below.
  3. For each question:
    • First, write your own answer based on your understanding of the material.
    • Then, consult an AI assistant to explore other possible answers or enhancements.
    • Finally, revise, refine, or comment on your original answer based on what you learned from the AI.

🔍 Your submission should clearly include:

  • Your original answer
  • A summary of what the AI suggested
  • Your revised answer or reflections (e.g., Did the AI give you a better idea? Did you disagree? Why?)

Case Study 1: Mobile Health Tracker App

Scenario:
A small team is building a mobile health app to track meals, steps, workouts, and sleep. The app syncs data with the cloud and uses Firebase for backend storage. They’ve recently encountered a bug where food entries disappear after syncing.

Questions:

  1. Which types of testing (e.g., unit, integration, system, acceptance) should be prioritized? Why?
  2. Would black-box or white-box testing be more useful here—or both? Explain with examples.
  3. What kinds of automated tests would you recommend? What tools might help?
  4. How can test coverage tools be used effectively? What are their limitations?
  5. Given the sync bug, how could the team design regression tests to prevent similar future issues?

Case Study 2: Payroll Processing System

Scenario:
An enterprise payroll system is being built for a company with 20,000 employees. It must calculate pay, apply tax laws, and perform direct deposits using third-party APIs. Legal compliance and accuracy are critical.

Questions:

  1. What testing strategies would ensure correctness and reliability? How do they differ from the mobile app?
  2. What are the key testing risks in a financial system, and how would you address them?
  3. How would you test the integration of third-party APIs for taxes and banking?
  4. Which parts of the system should use white-box vs. black-box testing?
  5. How would you structure acceptance tests to satisfy business and legal needs?

Submission Guidelines:

  • Submit your work on Moodle with three parts for each question:
    1. Original Answer
    2. AI Response Summary
    3. Revised Answer or Reflection
  • Be honest about how AI changed or didn’t change your thinking. This is part of the learning process.

Note:

You may use ChatGPT or another AI assistant, but make sure your final answers reflect your own understanding and critical thinking.

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