Tips on Writing a Good TestCase

From wiki.mozilla.org

• Pretend you're writing a bug - it's pretty much the same
• Assume that the person following your test case only has basic familiarity with the product. For example:
  • "Bring up the New Calendar Wizard" - This is too vague.
  • "Launch the New Calendar Dialog (by either double clicking calendar list, File->New Calendar or right clicking calendar list)." - This is much better.
• Be fairly specific with the expected results
  • "It worked" - Once again, too vague.
  • "The event was created on the proper day; The event had the proper color" - This is great.
• Keep list of steps and expected results as simple as possible.
• You don't need to detail every click unless it's an important part of the testcase.
  • Click on the name text box; enter a name. Click on Color drop down, pick red.-- This is a little much
  • Give the calendar a name, assign it a color. --This is much better.

Christopher McMahon mentioned this at agile-testing@yahoogroups.com.