Question

What is error guessing?

A. A testing technique used to guess where a developer is likely to have made a mistake
B. A technique used for assessing defect metrics
C. A development technique to verify that all error paths have been coded
D. A planning technique used to anticipate likely schedule variances due to faults

Answer 1

Error guessing is a heuristic testing technique where testers use their intuition and experience to predict where developers may have made mistakes, although it acknowledges the tester's limited ability to know all potential errors.

Step-by-step explanation:

Error guessing is a testing technique used to predict where a developer is likely to have made mistakes in software or a system. It involves leveraging the intuition and experience of the tester to identify possible mistakes without having to conduct a detailed analysis. Experts who use error guessing often have a pretty good sense of where issues may lie, based on common error patterns, historical data, and an understanding of error-prone areas within the software. It is not a formal method, but rather a heuristic, which acts as a supplement to more structured testing techniques.

This technique makes use of mental shortcuts or heuristics to expedite the problem-solving process, although it may not be the most optimal approach. It requires testers to have a certain level of epistemic humility, as it acknowledges the limitations of one's ability to predict errors solely based on intuition. Moreover, error guessing avoids the Gambler's fallacy by not assuming that past events alter the likelihood of future issues.