Week 9 - Testing & Debugging

Question 1

How are test harnesses different to test cases?

Answer 1

Test harnesses are like the placeholder, whereas the test cases are the actual values which we are passing in to see if the program will work properly or not.

Question 2

Why do we use validation?

Answer 2

Validation reduces the variety of inputs and only allows for certain inputs otherwise you can’t continue.

This is implemented with Reg Exp’s.

Question 3

How is defensive programming implemented?

Answer 3

Through adding placeholders, using conditional statements and structured code.

(if statements)

Question 4

How can we debug code?

Answer 4

It can be done either bottom up or top down as well as tracking variables and using binary chops.

Question 5

What is an efficient way to test that a program will work?

Answer 5

Try to test the program by entering no values, 1 value and then 3 values.

Question 6

Test Harnesses

Answer 6

Small programs used to specify a program’s function and output as well as to test modules.

They are useful in testing hypotheses for outputs of certain inputs.

Question 7

Binary Chop

Answer 7

Is similar to a number guessing game in that you continue to divide the program into the possible sections where the issue could be.

(50-100, 75-100, 90-100, 95-100, 98!)

Question 8

Top Down Debugging

Answer 8

Looking at all of the modules and then fixing the problems from there.

Question 9

Bottom Up Debugging

Answer 9

Testing each of the modules as you make them to know where the issues are coming from.