This document discusses open source and free test tools. It begins by defining a test tool as software used to augment the testing process. It then asks participants which tools they use, both open source/free tools like Selenium and commercial tools like Jira. The document explores reasons for using open source tools like cost and customization versus commercial tools like support. Finally, it discusses trends in commercial vs open source tools and strategies for effective tool usage.

1. Open Source & Free Test Tools
A Test Management Summit Facilitation
January 2009
Alan Richardson
www.compendiumdev.co.uk www.eviltester.com

2. How do you define “test tool”?
Test Tool
=
{software that we use to augment
our testing process in any way}

3. Is O/S your 1st
Choice?
1)O/S
2)Free
3)Custom
4)Commercial
Swiss army knife vs Hammer

4. Which Free and O/S tools do you
use?
● Selenium-RC
● Fiddler
● SoapUI
● Greenshot
● MiniCap
● Jmeter
● Webload
● PerlClip
● Eclipse
● Java
● FreeMind
● HTMLUnit
● PushToTest
● VirtualPC
● VMWare
● MWSnap
● WinPooch
● SysInternals
● AutoIt
● Notepad++
● Google Docs
● WinMerge
● Firebug
● Selenium IDE

5. Which Commercial Tools Do You
Use?
● Jira
● Confluence
● Avalanche
● SnagIt
● BeyondCompare

6. Reasons Why You Use O/S?
● Cost
● Google Investments
● Choice
● Better staff
● Easier to retain staff
● Long Evaluations
● No lock-in
● Easier to keep up to date

7. Why do you use commercial tools?
● Support
● Plausible Deniability
● Long Term Cost
● Easier to recruit Staff
● Less Technical
● Tool was already there

8. Have you noticed any Trends about
Commercial vs O/S?
Commercial tools
● Hide the scripting (-)
● Proprietery &
Unattractive scripting
languages (-)
● Tools for testers (-)
● Do All Things (-)
Open Source
● More technically
demanding (+)
● Common Programming
Languages (+)
● Use by Dev & Test (+)
● Specialised (+)

9. What could commercial tools do?
● Augment Open Source
● Specialise
● Cheaper
● More Open
But will customers ask
for this?

10. Is O/S too Risky?
● Skills
● Updates Slow
● Tools not good
enough
● Flash etc.
● Too many to choose
from
● Selenium != IDE
● Access to 'bleeding
edge' daily builds
● Throw it away – no
commitment

11. How to find and keep up to date?
● O/S
● Sourceforge.net
● OpenQA.com
● Better Software,
ST&P
● Blogs
– Testing Reflections
– For each tool
– Google blogs
– ...too many rss feeds...
● Commercial
● Tools Fairs?
● Testing Experience
● ...Suggestions...

12. Usage Strategies for effective tool
usage?
● Abstraction
● Best fit
● Skilled Staff
● Keep looking for alternatives

13. Share your experiences
● What is a test tool?
● O/S as first choice?
● Which tools do you use?
● Why do you use those tools?
● Why don't you use O/S?
● What trends would make a difference?
● What are your usage and learning strategies?