| Stions of this new direction can be found, for example, in the ‘‘Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK)’’ and the code of ethics that have been developed recently through the efforts of joint IEEE/ACM task forces [1,2]. Licensing procedures for software engineers are also under development. Software testing is a subdiscipline in this emerging field. The software industry is actively seeking and promoting professionals who are educated and trained in the areas of testing and quality assurance, and who will promote the development of high-quality software.
Graduate schools have slowly been responding to this industry need, and a growing number are offering courses focused on software testing and quality assurance as part of advanced degree programs in software engineering. To support these programs, as well as the educational needs of practicing professionals in the industry, a new type of book on software testing is needed. The book should have an engineering/process orientation, and promote the growth and value of software testing as a profession. This text was developed to meet these needs. It has been designed to serve as (i) a text for students enrolled in a graduate-level testing/quality assurance class, and (ii) a knowledge source and learning tool for professionals currently working in the field. |