A Testing Checklist for Database Programs: Managing Risk in an Agile Environment

Abstract

Quoin Inc. has been using agile testing methodologies, such as continuous integration and unit testing, in its development of SQL-based Java software since 1998. Based on that experience, we present a checklist containing twenty-six database-related items to consider when testing such software. The checklist is annotated with examples of good and bad development and testing practices. While this paper targets projects that use both SQL and Java, most of the checklist items are applicable to any database transactions in any language. Managers and developers can use this checklist as a starting point for discussion of what types of tests to require for their particular project, especially when operating in an agile environment such as XP. Referring to the checklist will enable the project to develop more robust code with less effort.