It may surprise you to learn that Microsoft employs as many software testers as developers. Less surprising is the emphasis the company places on the testing discipline€"and its role in managing quality across a diverse, 150+ product portfolio.

This book€"written by three of Microsoft€s most prominent test professionals€"shares the best practices, tools, and systems used by the company€s 9,000-strong corps of testers. Learn how your colleagues at Microsoft design and manage testing, their approach to training and career development, and what challenges they see ahead. Most important, you€ll get practical insights you can apply for better results in your organization.

Discover how to:

• Design effective tests and run them throughout the product lifecycle
• Minimize cost and risk with functional tests, and know when to apply structural techniques
• Measure code complexity to identify bugs and potential maintenance issues
• Use models to generate test cases, surface unexpected application behavior, and manage risk
• Know when to employ automated tests, design them for long-term use, and plug into an automation infrastructure
• Review the hallmarks of great testers€"and the tools they use to run tests, probe systems, and track progress efficiently
• Explore the challenges of testing services vs. shrink-wrapped software