http://testingblues.com/index.php/archives/2008/02/stressful-testing/ Test is the new Development Fri, 04 May 2012 19:17:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://testingblues.com/index.php/archives/2008/02/stressful-testing/comment-page-1/#comment-147 Jon Tilt Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:08:00 +0000 http://testingblues.com/index.php/archives/2008/02/stressful-testing/#comment-147 Good reuse Ben :) Stress is probably the most misunderstood area of system test. Most people talk about stress when they mean load. For me stress is going beyond the acceptable limits of the product, but with the assumption that failure will be graceful (if not deterministic). I also think we over-stress our products. To extend your (our?) example a typical stress test would be to drive to John O'Groats, at 120mph with 7 people on board. Of course the car is going to break, but is it really going to help improve the product? Likewise, attacking the same car with a sledgehammer is going to break it, but is that useful information? If we are going to do stress testing we must ensure that all the tests are seeking to add value to the product. Good reuse Ben
Stress is probably the most misunderstood area of system test. Most people talk about stress when they mean load. For me stress is going beyond the acceptable limits of the product, but with the assumption that failure will be graceful (if not deterministic).
I also think we over-stress our products. To extend your (our?) example a typical stress test would be to drive to John O’Groats, at 120mph with 7 people on board. Of course the car is going to break, but is it really going to help improve the product? Likewise, attacking the same car with a sledgehammer is going to break it, but is that useful information? If we are going to do stress testing we must ensure that all the tests are seeking to add value to the product.

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