← VCE Software Development U4O1

Beta testing

Testing where potential users try the near-finished solution to check it meets requirements and is usable. It follows alpha testing, which is done by the developers.

Part of: VCE Software Development - U4O1 - development and evaluation — Module 166, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 3 — Interactions Between Users, Data and Digital Systems — Module 130

Understanding Beta testing in VCE Software Development U4O1

What it does: The list holds people who will actually use the solution. They are not developers, so they can judge it as real users would. The two things beta testing checks are whether the solution meets the requirements and whether it is usable. The dictionary records a result for each. Beta testing is done by potential users. Alpha testing is the stage done by the developers. Not being able to find a control is a usability problem. It is found by users trying the solution.

Common mistakes: The stage is text, so it needs quotes: stage = "beta". Without quotes Python looks for a variable called beta and raises a NameError. Beta testing is done by potential users, not the developers. The line should print beta_by. Alpha_by holds the developers, who do alpha testing.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 125–171) and word search (Modules 115–171).

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Learning

Duo

Who carries out beta testing?

Potential users of the solutionOnly the developers who built it

Matches

Beta testing is done by the developers on their own computers before anyone else sees the solution.

↓

This describes alpha testing. Beta testing is done by potential users, not the developers.

Applying

Meanings

Term

beta testing

Meaning

Testing where potential users try the near-finished solution to check it meets requirements and is usable. It follows alpha testing, which is done by the developers.

Practice

testers = ["Mia", "Noah", "Zoe"]

Testing

Gaps

betatest(solution, testers):

Check Answer

Spots

1stage = beta

2testers = "potential users"

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Quick Questions

1. Who carries out beta testing?

A. Potential users of the solution ✓

B. Only the developers who built it

Beta testing is done by potential users. Alpha testing is the stage done by the developers.

2. Which comes first?

A. Beta testing, then alpha testing

B. Alpha testing, then beta testing ✓

Developers alpha test first to fix major problems. Beta testing follows with potential users.

3. When is beta testing done?

A. When the solution is near-finished ✓

B. Before any code has been written

Beta testing needs a near-finished solution that users can actually try.

4. What is one main purpose of beta testing?

A. To check the solution meets requirements ✓

B. To write the header comments in the code

Beta testers check that the solution does what the requirements say it should do.

5. Which question is a beta tester most likely to answer?

A. Is the variable named in snake_case?

B. Is the solution easy to use? ✓

Beta testing checks usability from the user's view. Naming conventions are checked by developers in the code.

Match the Pairs

beta testing → Potential users try the near-finished solution to check it meets requirements and is usable

alpha testing → Testing done by the developers or the development team before the solution is released to potential users

Beta testers should be potential users of the solution, not the developers who built it → testers = ['Year 10 student', 'teacher', 'parent']

Beta testing checks the solution meets its requirements and is usable → results = {'meets_requirements': True, 'usable': True}

Beta testing is done by the developers on their own computers before anyone else sees the solution. → This describes alpha testing. Beta testing is done by potential users, not the developers.

Beta testing happens at the start of a project, before any code has been written. → Beta testing happens late, once the solution is near-finished, because users need something working to try.

Key Term

beta testing

Testing where potential users try the near-finished solution to check it meets requirements and is usable. It follows alpha testing, which is done by the developers.

Fill in the Blanks

1. def betatest(solution, testers):

Hint: Type the keyword that starts a function definition.

2. stages = ["alpha", "beta", "release"]

Hint: Type the testing stage that comes after alpha testing and before release.

3. stage = "alpha" if developer else "beta"

Hint: Type the keyword that picks the other option when the tester is not a developer.

4. passed = all(results)

Hint: Type the built-in function that is True only when every requirement check passed.

5. if not completed: issues.append(task)

Hint: Type the logical operator that reverses a Boolean, so a task the tester could not finish is recorded as a usability issue.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A stage = beta

B testers = "potential users"

C if stage == "beta":

D print(testers, "try it")

Line A — The stage is text, so it needs quotes: stage = "beta". Without quotes Python looks for a variable called beta and raises a NameError.

Question 2

A alpha_by = "developers"

B beta_by = "potential users"

C print("Beta by", alpha_by)

Line C — Beta testing is done by potential users, not the developers. The line should print beta_by. Alpha_by holds the developers, who do alpha testing.

Question 3

A met = 8

B total = 10

C percent = met / total * 100

D print("Met:", percent, "%"

Line D — The print call is missing its closing bracket. It should end with ) so the percentage of requirements met by the beta testers is displayed.

Question 4

A feedback = []

B feedback.add("Too slow")

C for item in feedback:

D print(item)

Line B — Lists do not have an add() method. Use feedback.append("Too slow") to store a beta tester's comment in the list.

Question 5

A testers = ["Sam", "Ali"]

B for name in testers

C print(name, "is testing")

Line B — A for loop header must end with a colon. It should be for name in testers: so each beta tester in the list is processed.

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