Set 4 of Interview FAQs
Q: 1 What software tools are in demand these days?
A: There is no good answer to this question. The answer to this question can and will change from day to day. What is in demand today, is not necessarily in demand tomorrow.
To give you some recent examples, some of the software tools on end clients' lists of requirements include LabView, LoadRunner, Rational Tools and Winrunner.
But, as a general rule of thumb, there are many-many other items on their lists, depending on the end client, their needs and preferences.
It is worth repeating... the answer to this question can and will change from one day to the next. What is in demand today will not likely be in demand tomorrow.
Q: 2 Which of these tools should I learn?
A: I suggest you learn some of the most popular software tools (e.g. WinRunner, LoadRunner, LabView, and Rational Rose, etc.) with special attention paid to the Rational Toolset and LoadRunner.
Q: 3 What is software configuration management?
A: Software Configuration management (SCM) relates to Configuration Management (CM).
SCM is the control, and the recording of, changes that are made to the software and documentation throughout the software development life cycle (SDLC).
SCM covers the tools and processes used to control, coordinate and track code, requirements, documentation, problems, change requests, designs, tools, compilers, libraries, patches, and changes made to them, and to keep track of who makes the changes.
We, test engineers have experience with a full range of CM tools and concepts, and can easily adapt to an organization's software tool and process needs.
Q: 4 What are some of the software configuration management tools?
A: Software configuration management tools include Rational ClearCase, DOORS, PVCS, CVS; and there are many others. Rational ClearCase is a popular software tool, made by Rational Software, for revision control of source code.
DOORS, or "Dynamic Object Oriented Requirements System", is a requirements version control software tool.
CVS, or "Concurrent Version System", is a popular, open source version control system to keep track of changes in documents associated with software projects. CVS enables several, often distant, developers to work together on the same source code.
PVCS is a document version control tool, a competitor of SCCS. SCCS is an original UNIX program, based on "diff". Diff is a UNIX utility that compares the difference between two text files.
Q: 5 Which of these roles are the best and most popular?
A: In testing, Tester roles tend to be the most popular. The less popular roles include the roles of System Administrator, Test/QA Team Lead, and Test/QA Managers.
Q: 6 What other roles are in testing?
A: Depending on the organization, the following roles are more or less standard on most testing projects: Testers, Test Engineers, Test/QA Team Leads, Test/QA Managers, System Administrators, Database Administrators, Technical Analysts, Test Build Managers, and Test Configuration Managers.
Depending on the project, one person can and often wear more than one hat. For instance, we Test Engineers often wear the hat of Technical Analyst, Test Build Manager and Test Configuration Manager as well.
Q: 7 What's the difference between priority and severity?
A: The simple answer is, "Priority is about scheduling, and severity is about standards."
The complex answer is, "Priority means something is afforded or deserves prior attention; a precedence established by order of importance (or urgency). Severity is the state or quality of being severe; severe implies adherence to rigorous standards or high principles and often suggests harshness; severe is marked by or requires strict adherence to rigorous standards or high principles, e.g. a severe code of behavior."
Q: 8 What's the difference between efficient and effective?
A: "Efficient" means having a high ratio of output to input; working or producing with a minimum of waste. For example, "An efficient test engineer wastes no time", or "An efficient engine saves gas".
"Effective", on the other hand, means producing, or capable of producing, an intended result, or having a striking effect. For example, "For automated testing, WinRunner is more effective than an oscilloscope", or "For rapid long-distance transportation, the jet engine is more effective than a witch's broomstick".
Q: 9 What is the difference between verification and validation?
A: Verification takes place before validation, and not vice versa. Verification evaluates documents, plans, code, requirements, and specifications. Validation, on the other hand, evaluates the product itself.
The inputs of verification are checklists, issues lists, walk-throughs and inspection meetings, reviews and meetings. The input of validation, on the other hand, is the actual testing of an actual product.
The output of verification is a nearly perfect set of documents, plans, specifications, and requirements document. The output of validation, on the other hand, is a nearly perfect, actual product.
Q: 10 What is documentation change management?
A: Documentation change management is part of configuration management (CM). CM covers the tools and processes used to control, coordinate and track code, requirements, documentation, problems, change requests, designs, tools, compilers, libraries, patches, changes made to them and who makes the changes.
Rob Davis has had experience with a full range of CM tools and concepts. Rob Davis can easily adapt to your software tool and process needs.
Q: 11 What is up time?
A: "Up time" is the time period when a system is operational and in service. Up time is the sum of busy time and idle time.
For example, if, out of 168 hours, a system has been busy for 50 hours, idle for 110 hours, and down for 8 hours, then the busy time is 50 hours, idle time is 110 hours, and up time is (110 + 50 =) 160 hours.
Q: 12 What is upwardly compatible software?
A: Upwardly compatible software is compatible with a later or more complex version of itself. For example, an upwardly compatible software is able to handle files created by a later version of itself.
Q: 13 What is upward compression?
A: In software design, upward compression means a form of demodularization, in which a subordinate module is copied into the body of a superior module.
Q: 14 What is usability?
A: Usability means ease of use; the ease with which a user can learn to operate, prepare inputs for, and interpret outputs of a software product.
Q: 15 What is user documentation?
A: User documentation is a document that describes the way a software product or system should be used to obtain the desired results.
Q: 16 What is a user manual?
A: User manual is a document that presents information necessary to employ software or a system to obtain the desired results.
Typically, what is described are system and component capabilities, limitations, options, permitted inputs, expected outputs, error messages, and special instructions.
Q: 17 What is the difference between user documentation and user manual?
A: When a distinction is made between those who operate and use a computer system for its intended purpose, a separate user documentation and user manual is created. Operators get user documentation, and users get user manuals.
Q: 18 What is user friendly software?
A: A computer program is user friendly, when it is designed with ease of use, as one of the primary objectives of its design.
Q: 19 What is a user friendly document?
A: A document is user friendly, when it is designed with ease of use, as one of the primary objectives of its design.
Q: 20 What is a user guide?
A: User guide is the same as the user manual. It is a document that presents information necessary to employ a system or component to obtain the desired results.
Typically, what is described are system and component capabilities, limitations, options, permitted inputs, expected outputs, error messages, and special instructions.
Q: 21 What is user interface?
A: User interface is the interface between a human user and a computer system. It enables the passage of information between a human user and hardware or software components of a computer system.
Q: 22 What is a utility?
A: Utility is a software tool designed to perform some frequently used support function. For example, a program to print files.
Q: 23 What is utilization?
A: Utilization is the ratio of time a system is busy, divided by the time it is available. Uilization is a useful measure in evaluating computer performance.
Q: 24 What is V&V?
A: V&V is an acronym for verification and validation.
Q: 25 What is variable trace?
A: Variable trace is a record of the names and values of variables accessed and changed during the execution of a computer program.
Q: 26 What is value trace?
A: Value trace is same as variable trace. It is a record of the names and values of variables accessed and changed during the execution of a computer program.
Q: 27 What is a variable?
A: Variables are data items whose values can change. One example is a variable we've named "capacitor_voltage_10000", where "capacitor_value_10000" can be any whole number between -10000 and +10000.
Keep in mind, there are local and global variables.
Q: 28 What is a variant?
A: Variants are versions of a program. Variants result from the application of software diversity.
Q: 29 What is verification and validation (V&V)?
A: Verification and validation (V&V) is a process that helps to determine if the software requirements are complete, correct; and if the software of each development phase fulfills the requirements and conditions imposed by the previos phase; and if the final software complies with the applicable software requirements.
Q: 30 What is a software version?
A: A software version is an initial release (or re-release) of a software associated with a complete compilation (or recompilation) of the software.
Q: 31 What is a document version?
A: A document version is an initial release (or a complete re-release) of a document, as opposed to a revision resulting from issuing change pages to a previous release.
Q: 32 What is VDD?
A: VDD is an acronym. It stands for "version description document".
Q: 33 What is a version description document (VDD)?
A: Version description document (VDD) is a document that accompanies and identifies a given version of a software product.
Typically the VDD includes a description, and identification of the software, identification of changes incorporated into this version, and installation and operating information unique to this version of the software.
A: There is no good answer to this question. The answer to this question can and will change from day to day. What is in demand today, is not necessarily in demand tomorrow.
To give you some recent examples, some of the software tools on end clients' lists of requirements include LabView, LoadRunner, Rational Tools and Winrunner.
But, as a general rule of thumb, there are many-many other items on their lists, depending on the end client, their needs and preferences.
It is worth repeating... the answer to this question can and will change from one day to the next. What is in demand today will not likely be in demand tomorrow.
Q: 2 Which of these tools should I learn?
A: I suggest you learn some of the most popular software tools (e.g. WinRunner, LoadRunner, LabView, and Rational Rose, etc.) with special attention paid to the Rational Toolset and LoadRunner.
Q: 3 What is software configuration management?
A: Software Configuration management (SCM) relates to Configuration Management (CM).
SCM is the control, and the recording of, changes that are made to the software and documentation throughout the software development life cycle (SDLC).
SCM covers the tools and processes used to control, coordinate and track code, requirements, documentation, problems, change requests, designs, tools, compilers, libraries, patches, and changes made to them, and to keep track of who makes the changes.
We, test engineers have experience with a full range of CM tools and concepts, and can easily adapt to an organization's software tool and process needs.
Q: 4 What are some of the software configuration management tools?
A: Software configuration management tools include Rational ClearCase, DOORS, PVCS, CVS; and there are many others. Rational ClearCase is a popular software tool, made by Rational Software, for revision control of source code.
DOORS, or "Dynamic Object Oriented Requirements System", is a requirements version control software tool.
CVS, or "Concurrent Version System", is a popular, open source version control system to keep track of changes in documents associated with software projects. CVS enables several, often distant, developers to work together on the same source code.
PVCS is a document version control tool, a competitor of SCCS. SCCS is an original UNIX program, based on "diff". Diff is a UNIX utility that compares the difference between two text files.
Q: 5 Which of these roles are the best and most popular?
A: In testing, Tester roles tend to be the most popular. The less popular roles include the roles of System Administrator, Test/QA Team Lead, and Test/QA Managers.
Q: 6 What other roles are in testing?
A: Depending on the organization, the following roles are more or less standard on most testing projects: Testers, Test Engineers, Test/QA Team Leads, Test/QA Managers, System Administrators, Database Administrators, Technical Analysts, Test Build Managers, and Test Configuration Managers.
Depending on the project, one person can and often wear more than one hat. For instance, we Test Engineers often wear the hat of Technical Analyst, Test Build Manager and Test Configuration Manager as well.
Q: 7 What's the difference between priority and severity?
A: The simple answer is, "Priority is about scheduling, and severity is about standards."
The complex answer is, "Priority means something is afforded or deserves prior attention; a precedence established by order of importance (or urgency). Severity is the state or quality of being severe; severe implies adherence to rigorous standards or high principles and often suggests harshness; severe is marked by or requires strict adherence to rigorous standards or high principles, e.g. a severe code of behavior."
Q: 8 What's the difference between efficient and effective?
A: "Efficient" means having a high ratio of output to input; working or producing with a minimum of waste. For example, "An efficient test engineer wastes no time", or "An efficient engine saves gas".
"Effective", on the other hand, means producing, or capable of producing, an intended result, or having a striking effect. For example, "For automated testing, WinRunner is more effective than an oscilloscope", or "For rapid long-distance transportation, the jet engine is more effective than a witch's broomstick".
Q: 9 What is the difference between verification and validation?
A: Verification takes place before validation, and not vice versa. Verification evaluates documents, plans, code, requirements, and specifications. Validation, on the other hand, evaluates the product itself.
The inputs of verification are checklists, issues lists, walk-throughs and inspection meetings, reviews and meetings. The input of validation, on the other hand, is the actual testing of an actual product.
The output of verification is a nearly perfect set of documents, plans, specifications, and requirements document. The output of validation, on the other hand, is a nearly perfect, actual product.
Q: 10 What is documentation change management?
A: Documentation change management is part of configuration management (CM). CM covers the tools and processes used to control, coordinate and track code, requirements, documentation, problems, change requests, designs, tools, compilers, libraries, patches, changes made to them and who makes the changes.
Rob Davis has had experience with a full range of CM tools and concepts. Rob Davis can easily adapt to your software tool and process needs.
Q: 11 What is up time?
A: "Up time" is the time period when a system is operational and in service. Up time is the sum of busy time and idle time.
For example, if, out of 168 hours, a system has been busy for 50 hours, idle for 110 hours, and down for 8 hours, then the busy time is 50 hours, idle time is 110 hours, and up time is (110 + 50 =) 160 hours.
Q: 12 What is upwardly compatible software?
A: Upwardly compatible software is compatible with a later or more complex version of itself. For example, an upwardly compatible software is able to handle files created by a later version of itself.
Q: 13 What is upward compression?
A: In software design, upward compression means a form of demodularization, in which a subordinate module is copied into the body of a superior module.
Q: 14 What is usability?
A: Usability means ease of use; the ease with which a user can learn to operate, prepare inputs for, and interpret outputs of a software product.
Q: 15 What is user documentation?
A: User documentation is a document that describes the way a software product or system should be used to obtain the desired results.
Q: 16 What is a user manual?
A: User manual is a document that presents information necessary to employ software or a system to obtain the desired results.
Typically, what is described are system and component capabilities, limitations, options, permitted inputs, expected outputs, error messages, and special instructions.
Q: 17 What is the difference between user documentation and user manual?
A: When a distinction is made between those who operate and use a computer system for its intended purpose, a separate user documentation and user manual is created. Operators get user documentation, and users get user manuals.
Q: 18 What is user friendly software?
A: A computer program is user friendly, when it is designed with ease of use, as one of the primary objectives of its design.
Q: 19 What is a user friendly document?
A: A document is user friendly, when it is designed with ease of use, as one of the primary objectives of its design.
Q: 20 What is a user guide?
A: User guide is the same as the user manual. It is a document that presents information necessary to employ a system or component to obtain the desired results.
Typically, what is described are system and component capabilities, limitations, options, permitted inputs, expected outputs, error messages, and special instructions.
Q: 21 What is user interface?
A: User interface is the interface between a human user and a computer system. It enables the passage of information between a human user and hardware or software components of a computer system.
Q: 22 What is a utility?
A: Utility is a software tool designed to perform some frequently used support function. For example, a program to print files.
Q: 23 What is utilization?
A: Utilization is the ratio of time a system is busy, divided by the time it is available. Uilization is a useful measure in evaluating computer performance.
Q: 24 What is V&V?
A: V&V is an acronym for verification and validation.
Q: 25 What is variable trace?
A: Variable trace is a record of the names and values of variables accessed and changed during the execution of a computer program.
Q: 26 What is value trace?
A: Value trace is same as variable trace. It is a record of the names and values of variables accessed and changed during the execution of a computer program.
Q: 27 What is a variable?
A: Variables are data items whose values can change. One example is a variable we've named "capacitor_voltage_10000", where "capacitor_value_10000" can be any whole number between -10000 and +10000.
Keep in mind, there are local and global variables.
Q: 28 What is a variant?
A: Variants are versions of a program. Variants result from the application of software diversity.
Q: 29 What is verification and validation (V&V)?
A: Verification and validation (V&V) is a process that helps to determine if the software requirements are complete, correct; and if the software of each development phase fulfills the requirements and conditions imposed by the previos phase; and if the final software complies with the applicable software requirements.
Q: 30 What is a software version?
A: A software version is an initial release (or re-release) of a software associated with a complete compilation (or recompilation) of the software.
Q: 31 What is a document version?
A: A document version is an initial release (or a complete re-release) of a document, as opposed to a revision resulting from issuing change pages to a previous release.
Q: 32 What is VDD?
A: VDD is an acronym. It stands for "version description document".
Q: 33 What is a version description document (VDD)?
A: Version description document (VDD) is a document that accompanies and identifies a given version of a software product.
Typically the VDD includes a description, and identification of the software, identification of changes incorporated into this version, and installation and operating information unique to this version of the software.
1 comments:
If you would like to stay current on the most advanced (architecturally speaking) software configuration management tool, I would suggest checking out AccuRev. This company has taken version control to a whole new level over Rational ClearCase and CVS look-alikes. In fact, I think past ClearCase UCM users are its largest growing user base.
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