Software Testing Standards

I am the software testing representative at BSI and started working on standards development in 1990 as part of the BCS Testing Standards Working Party, which was responsible for the development of BS 7925-2:1998, a standard on software module testing and BS 7925‑1:1998, a vocabulary of software testing terms.  I chaired this working party from 1995 until 2019, when I left the BCS.   This working party also worked on a standard for techniques for non-functional testing (see www.testingstandards.co.uk).

In May 2007 ISO formed a working group to develop a new standard on software testing – a new area for ISO (see here for details). Based on my previous experience, I was made Convenor (Chair) of this new working group (WG26), which comprises representatives from about 30 countries, and we meet twice a year for 6 days each time.  The first three of these standards were published in September 2013.  ISO/IEC 33063 on Test Assessment, which is based on the Test Process standard, was published in August 2015.  The fourth, on test techniques was published in December 2015.  This initiative is closely-supported by IEEE and BSI, both of which have donated existing standards as source documents to the project (these standards have now been retired as the new standards have been published).  The reviews standard was published in early 2017.

There are currently seven WG26 published software testing and review standards:

  • Concepts and Terminology (ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-1)
  • Test Processes (ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-2)
  • Test Documentation (ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-3)
  • Test Techniques (ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-4)
  • Keyword-Driven Testing (ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-5)
  • Test Assessment (ISO/IEC 33063)
  • Work Product Reviews (ISO/IEC 20246)

The following WG26 projects are ongoing (IS=International Standard, TR=Technical Report):

  • Model-Based Testing TR
  • Agile Testing TR
  • Incident Management IS
  • Performance Testing IS
  • Automotive Testing TR
  • Games Testing TR
  • Testing AI-Based Systems TR
  • Static Analysis IS
  • Test Scenarios & Environments IS
  • Testing Large Systems / Architectures TR

eBook

I have written a book (244 pages) on the testing standards (ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119 SOFTWARE TESTING STANDARDS by Stuart Reid), which is now available on Amazon for the equivalent of about $10 or £7.50.

Volunteers

If you would like to be involved in this work, either as an expert reviewer or editor of testing standards, then initially please contact your national standards body.  You can find their contact details here.  If you are based in the UK, and would like to get involved then simply contact me.