HOW TESTING IS IMPORTANT IN SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT?
Alpha and beta testing
Alpha testing is a form of internal acceptance testing performed mainly by in-house software quality assurance and testing teams. It is the last testing done by test teams at development site after the acceptance testing and before releasing the software for beta test. Alpha testing can also be done by potential users or customers of the application but still this is a form of in-house acceptance testing. Alpha tests are conducted in a controlled environment. Beta testing is conducted at one or more end-user sites. Unlike alpha testing, the developer generally is not present; therefore, the beta test is a “live” application of the software in an environment that cannot be controlled by the developer — the customer records all problems that are encountered during beta testing and reports to the developer at regular intervals. Because of problems reported during beta tests, modifications can be made followed by preparation for the release of the software product to the entire customer base. A variation on beta testing, called customer acceptance testing, is sometimes performed when custom software is delivered to a customer under contract. The customer performs a series of specific tests to uncover errors before accepting the software from the developer. In some cases (e.g., a major corporate or governmental system), acceptance testing can be very formal and encompass many days or even weeks of testing.
