Test estimation techniques in Testing Fundamentals - Test Execution Trace

Test Overview

This test simulates estimating the time needed to complete a set of test cases using different estimation techniques. It verifies that the estimation method returns a valid positive number representing hours.

Test Code - unittest

Testing Fundamentals

import unittest

class TestEstimationTechniques(unittest.TestCase):
    def estimate_test_cases(self, num_cases, technique):
        # Simple mock estimation logic
        if technique == 'expert_judgment':
            return num_cases * 1.5  # 1.5 hours per case
        elif technique == 'historical_data':
            return num_cases * 1.2  # 1.2 hours per case
        elif technique == 'three_point':
            optimistic = num_cases * 1.0
            most_likely = num_cases * 1.5
            pessimistic = num_cases * 2.0
            return (optimistic + 4 * most_likely + pessimistic) / 6
        else:
            raise ValueError('Unknown estimation technique')

    def test_expert_judgment(self):
        hours = self.estimate_test_cases(4, 'expert_judgment')
        self.assertTrue(hours > 0, 'Estimated hours should be positive')

    def test_historical_data(self):
        hours = self.estimate_test_cases(4, 'historical_data')
        self.assertTrue(hours > 0, 'Estimated hours should be positive')

    def test_three_point(self):
        hours = self.estimate_test_cases(4, 'three_point')
        self.assertTrue(hours > 0, 'Estimated hours should be positive')

    def test_invalid_technique(self):
        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
            self.estimate_test_cases(4, 'invalid_technique')

if __name__ == '__main__':
    unittest.main()

Execution Trace - 6 Steps

Step	Action	System State	Assertion	Result
1	Test starts	Test runner initialized, test class loaded	-	PASS
2	Runs test_expert_judgment method	Calls estimate_test_cases with 4 cases and 'expert_judgment' technique	Check that estimated hours > 0	PASS
3	Runs test_historical_data method	Calls estimate_test_cases with 4 cases and 'historical_data' technique	Check that estimated hours > 0	PASS
4	Runs test_three_point method	Calls estimate_test_cases with 4 cases and 'three_point' technique	Check that estimated hours > 0	PASS
5	Runs test_invalid_technique method	Calls estimate_test_cases with 4 cases and 'invalid_technique' technique	Expect ValueError exception	PASS
6	Test ends	All tests executed successfully	-	PASS

Failure Scenario

Failing Condition: If estimate_test_cases returns zero or negative hours or does not raise error for invalid technique

Execution Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

What does the test_expert_judgment method verify?

A That the estimated hours for expert judgment are positive

B That the estimated hours are exactly 6

C That the test cases run without exceptions

D That the estimation technique is unknown

Key Result

Always verify that estimation functions return valid positive values and handle unknown inputs gracefully by raising exceptions.