The Hidden Value of Software Defects
“What in the world is he thinking?” you may be asking. After all, we know that software defects cause applications to fail, so how can a defect have…
Read article August 1, 2026Ideas worth carrying forward
Category: Defects
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Practical observations for testers, test leaders, and organizations that want software quality to create genuine value.
Killer Defects and Killer Weeds
Recently, I was listening to a radio interview about genetically modified crops. During the discussion, the guest mentioned the fact that farmers are starting to see “killer weeds.”…
Read article July 29, 2026When Defects Go Big Time
Original publication – Sept. 15, 2013. Revised on July 29, 2026 I remember a conversation with a test manager many years ago who worked for a major airline.…
Read article July 29, 2026What is a “Glitch”?
I try to keep my rants to a minimum, but I reserve the right to rant at least once every six months. I claim my right to rant…
Read article July 28, 2026I Thought I Saw a Defect, Or Did I?
One reason it takes so much longer to perform a test than to use the system in real life is that the tester must carefully observe the results and record them as the test is performed. Both of these tasks, observing and recording, can be difficult, depending on the application and environment.
Read article July 28, 2026Achieving Software Quality Using Defect Filters
The concept of defect filters is a powerful one that many others have written about in the past. Michael Fagan is credited by many as a pioneer in…
Read article July 28, 2026The Hidden Value of Defects
There are many things we can learn from defects, but many people never get past the basic purpose of problem resolution. Here are some of the things that can turn these lumps of coal into diamonds!
Read article July 28, 2026The 20 Most Common Software Problems
After over 30 years of combined software defect analysis performed by ourselves and colleagues, we have identified 20 common software problems. These common software problems appear in a wide variety of applications and environments, but are especially common in dirty systems.
Read article July 27, 2026