software bugs Archives - Testbytes Software

How to Find Bugs in Game Testing?

Posted on December 7, 2023December 7, 2023 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

In the dynamic world of game development, where creativity meets technology, one crucial aspect often goes unnoticed: game testing. While the spotlight shines on captivating visuals, immersive storylines, and thrilling gameplay, the game testers work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for players.

Game testing is vital in the development process, serving as the quality control checkpoint that guarantees a polished and bug-free game. Game testers meticulously play through every aspect of the game, identifying and reporting any glitches, errors, or inconsistencies that might hinder the player’s experience.

But the significance of game testing extends far beyond simply fixing bugs. It’s a vital tool for:

Ensuring game stability and performance: Testers identify and report issues that could disrupt gameplay, such as crashes, freezes, and lag. This ensures players a smooth and immersive experience, preventing frustration and negative reviews.
Balancing gameplay: Game testing helps maintain a balance in gameplay mechanics, ensuring that no element is too powerful or weak. This creates fair and engaging gameplay for players of all skill levels.
Identifying usability issues: Testers provide feedback on the game’s user interface and controls, ensuring they are intuitive and easy for a wider audience. This makes the game more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Enhancing game quality: By proactively addressing issues and collecting player feedback through testing, developers can continuously improve the game’s quality and polish, keeping players engaged and coming back for more.

In essence, game testing bridges the developer’s vision and the player’s experience. The meticulous attention to detail and relentless pursuit of quality ensure players immerse themselves in a world free from distractions and frustration, allowing them to enjoy the game’s true potential.

Game testing is crucial for ensuring a smooth and enjoyable user experience. Here are some unconventional methods, alongside examples, to uncover hidden bugs and defects:

Break the Rules:

Example: Instead of saving the game at designated checkpoints, try saving mid-action or in unusual locations. This might reveal issues with save functionality.
Example: Repeatedly press buttons rapidly or try to perform actions in illogical sequences. This can expose flaws in game logic or responsiveness.

Use Unconventional Methods:

Example: Play the game in reverse order or skip crucial steps. This can highlight missing prompts or inconsistencies in the game flow.
Example: Try walking through walls or interacting with objects in unintended ways. This can uncover collision detection problems or unintended consequences.

Test All Functions Everywhere:

Example: Try using all available items and abilities, even in seemingly irrelevant situations. This might reveal hidden interactions or unintended effects.
Example: Explore every corner of the game world, including seemingly inaccessible areas. This can expose missing textures, visual glitches, or hidden secrets.

Test Beyond the Scope:

Example: Play the game with minimal inputs or user actions. This can highlight issues with AI behavior or game balance.
Example: Play the game with maximum inputs, such as engaging in intense combat or triggering multiple events simultaneously. This can expose performance bottlenecks or stability problems.

Appoint New Testers for Each Build:

Example: Rotating testers with fresh perspectives can help identify bugs experienced testers may overlook.
Example: Different testers have different playstyles that can reveal diverse bugs and defects.

Examine Effects:

Example: Play the game with modified settings, such as changing graphics quality or audio options. This can reveal compatibility issues or performance problems.
Example: Run the game for extended periods or under extreme conditions, such as low battery or high temperatures. This can expose stability issues or memory leaks.

Test with Different Peripherals:

Example: Test the game with controllers, keyboards, and other input devices. This can unearth compatibility issues or control problems.
Example: Test the game on different audio systems and headsets to ensure optimal sound quality and compatibility.

Importance of Exploratory Testing in Game Testing

Unlike its scripted counterpart, exploratory testing embraces the unknown, inviting testers to venture beyond the confines of written test cases and delve into the depths of the game world with a curious spirit.

In game development, where captivating experiences and flawless gameplay reign supreme, exploratory testing emerges as a vital force. Unlike its scripted counterpart, exploratory testing embraces the unknown, inviting testers to venture beyond the confines of written test cases and delve into the depths of the game world with a curious spirit. This freedom fosters an environment of discovery, uncovering hidden bugs and defects that might otherwise remain undetected.

Here’s why exploratory testing is an integral part of ensuring a smooth and bug-free gaming experience:

Uncovers the Unexpected: By exploring the game world in diverse ways, testers can uncover hidden bugs that might not be triggered by following predetermined test cases. This includes triggering unexpected events, trying illogical combinations of actions, and pushing the boundaries of the game’s mechanics.
Enhances Creativity and Problem-Solving: Exploratory testing encourages testers to think creatively and approach the game from different perspectives. This leads to a deeper understanding of the game mechanics and a more comprehensive identification of potential issues.
Improves Game Quality: By proactively discovering and resolving bugs early in the development process, exploratory testing significantly improves the game’s overall quality. This reduces the risk of encountering critical bugs later in development, saving time and resources.
Adapts to Changes: Unlike scripted test cases that become obsolete with game updates and changes, exploratory testing is inherently adaptable. Testers can adjust their approach based on new features and modifications, ensuring the testing process remains relevant and practical.
Focuses on User Experience: Exploratory testing emphasizes the user’s perspective. By playing the game in a way that simulates a real player’s experience, testers can identify issues that might hinder immersion or disrupt the gameplay flow.

Beta Testing! It’s Important!

Beta testers are typically given access to an unfinished version of the game and are encouraged to play it as much as possible and report any bugs they find. This allows developers to identify and fix bugs before the game is released, which can help to improve the overall quality of the game.

In addition to finding bugs, beta testing can also help to:

Get feedback from players: Beta testers can provide valuable feedback on the game’s gameplay, graphics, and overall feel. This feedback can help developers make changes to the game before it is released.
Build hype: Beta testing can help to build hype for a game by giving players a sneak peek at what to expect. This can help to generate excitement and anticipation for the game’s release.
Identify potential problems: Beta testing can help identify potential problems with the game that may not have been apparent during development. This can help developers fix these problems before the game is released.

There are a few different ways to offer beta versions of games. Some developers release open betas, which are available to anyone who wants to play them. Others release closed betas, which are only available to a small group of people, such as friends, family, and members of the press.

Beta testing can be a great way for gamers to get their hands on a new game early and help to make it better. However, it is important to remember that beta versions of games are not always finished and may contain bugs. If you are considering participating in a beta test, it is important to be aware of the risks involved.

Conclusion

While the thrill of the game captivates players, the meticulous efforts of game testers often remain unseen. Their dedication goes beyond simply identifying bugs; it encompasses ensuring stability, balancing gameplay, and crafting a seamless experience that engages and enchants.

From unconventional testing techniques to collaborative beta initiatives, game testers bridge the gap between developer vision and player expectations. They transform raw potential into captivating journeys, ensuring that every player can truly immerse themselves in the world of the game.

If you would like to test your game, talk to us. Our solution offering is not a rigid one. We have resources and plans that can cater to any needs.

12 Disastrous Software failure that created chaos0

Posted on April 23, 2018 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

The word ‘Disaster’ is an underplaying word for any organization or brand that had incurred losses due to software failure. Though technology and innovative applications have made life much simpler, numerous software bug instances are recorded by organizations.

Since it’s a human tendency to make mistakes and software products are coded and tested by humans, every piece of software, therefore, has some of the other glitches. In this run, let us look at 12 infamous epic software bugs that have changed the way developers and testers develop and test any software application.

1. Data breach at Yahoo – August 2013

An epic and historic data breach that occurred at Yahoo in August 2013 affected almost 3 billion users was hacked by a group of professional black hats from Eastern Europe. The hackers were also suspected of stealing and selling customer information hacked from LinkedIn, Myspace and Tumblr.

Similarly, there again occurred a breach in 2014 which affected 500 million Yahoo users but was different from the 2013 incident. People using Yahoo services should always follow proper hygiene by using two-factor authentication and not using the same password for a long period.

2. HSBC Online Banking Failure- April 2016

One of the world’s leading banks, HSBC, suffered an IT outage that left thousands of customers stranded. On 4th January 2016, people started facing problems while logging into the online and mobile banking services. The problem continues for the next 2 days and people feared to lose their money due to the failed system.

Though, HSBC released an official statement on Twitter apologizing for the audience for the technical issue. Though HSBC never came up with the exact reason for this downtime, we are sure it was caused due to some technical breaches.

3. North American Blackout- August 2003

On August 14, 2003, more than 50 million people lost power due to an aging grid that encountered a series of technological flaws, stretching from New York City to Ohio. The problem started when a power plant along the southern shore of Lake Erie, Ohio went offline due to the high demand which put the rest of the power network under greater stress.

While you might think that this has got nothing to do with a software bug, but the incident could have been avoided if the software that triggered the alarm system had not been bugged. The alarm could have alerted the officials at the right time to averting the incident.

4. ARIANE 5 Failure

On 4th June 1995, Europe’s newest satellite-launching rocket, ARIANE 5 ended in failure. Just after 40 seconds of it taking off, the launcher broke down and exploded. According to the team that investigated the failure, the destruction occurred due to the 64-bit number being coded into a 16-bit space. The loss of information was due to the error in the specification and design of the inertial reference system.

5. Pentium FDIV Bug- Nov 1994

Chips are like the brain for every electronic device. In 1994, the CPU market leader Pentium found that their chip simply couldn’t perform its math. Pentium tried and tested to find out that no matter what software changes you perform, the results stood the same being inaccurate for all combinations. The problem actually was the faulty math co-processor that was known as the floating-point unit.

When the floating-point unit accessed any empty cells in the algorithms, it would show a zero response instead of real calculations. The company was lucky in terms of finding the bug in an early stage before it shipped the chips to its customers.

6. Cisco Email Security Appliance Vulnerability- Sep 2016

In September 2016, a deformity in the Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) scanner of Cisco AsyncOS Software allowed remote attackers to bypass the system. The vulnerability was due to improper handling of the MIME header in the email attachment. A successful attempt allowed the attacker to access the configured email message and content filtering that allowed the malware to be delivered to the recipient.

Seeing the bug, it is advised that customers regularly consult the Cisco representatives for products to determine the exposure and complete the upgrade solution. If the support isn’t clear, customers can contact the Cisco Technical Assistance Centre (TAC) or their maintenance providers.

7. Cyber Attack On Nuclear Power Plant – October 2016

On October 10th, 2016 the world watched a team of highly skilled hackers takes down power grids that were a result of cyber-attack. Hackers were trying to penetrate the computer network of companies that operated nuclear power stations. This shows that disturbances in nuclear infrastructure due to a Cyber Attack is not always a ‘Hollywood stunt’!

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) did not disclose much of the attack that took place but said it disrupted the day to day activities at the plant.

8. WannaCry – May 2017

A recent software attack, WannaCry was a worldwide cyberattack that targeted co putters running Microsoft Windows operating systems. The attack encrypted files on PC’s hard drives which made them inaccessible to users. The attackers demanded a ransom bitcoin amount to decrypt the files on your system.

The attack was brought under control on May 14th, 2017 when network engineer Diaries Huss share a ‘kill switch’ names malware that eventually stopped the spread of this virus. However, later the developer of WannaCry updated his ransomware to remain unaffected by the malware.

9. Bitcoin Node Crash – April 2017

On 23rd April 2017, the world’s largest digital currency, bitcoin, came down crashing due to what appeared to be a memory leak. The software bug leads to, in effect, duplication of work, with wrong actors exploiting bugs for political points. While most of the bitcoin owners welcome an increase in the block sizes, the fact cannot be ignored that bitcoin seems very vulnerable to software bugs and attacks which needs improvements for sure.

In the end, it was all just codes, hence bugs will be found and fixed. This won’t be an issue until the bugs are relatively harmless.

10. Mariner 1’s $135 Million Software Bug- July 1962

A software bug that occurred due to a simple punch card is considered one of the most expensive failures in history. In 1962, the software bug; let to the destruction of Mariner 1 spacecraft even before it could complete its mission on Venus.

Just minutes before the satellite could take off, the onboard guidance antenna failed, which hindered the backup radar system guiding the spacecraft. However, later it was found that there were minor errors in the software of the guidance system which led to this huge loss.

11. The Mars Climate Orbiter- September 1999

On December 11th, 1999, NASA launched the Mars Climate Orbiter to study the climate and surface changes. The ground-based software team produced an output of non-SI units (pound-seconds) rather than the metric units which uncompensated and unconverted the units causing the thrusters to be powerful to a limit the orbiter couldn’t take.

The result was that the orbiter entered the Mars atmosphere at a wrong angle rather than entering the planets orbit. It was the responsibility of the engineers to check for the computer program’s compatibility.

12. The Morris Worm– November 1988

The Morris worm was one of the first worms that were introduced into computer systems with an intention being completely harmless. The program was developed by Robert Tappan Morris, who was a student at Cornell University. The worm spread across thousands of computers almost crashing systems due to coding errors. The news made the headline in no time.

The cleaning up of this mess had gone as high as around $100 million. Morris was of the thought that the worm would help improve the computer’s security features, which it did not.

Conclusion

Today, the advancements in information technology have huge resources to bring down any instances of a software bug that could affect our daily lives. But learning from history, it is important to keep a check on the software and test it to perfection with the help of an established software testing company so that you will not encounter any loss.

8 Instances Software Bugs Proved To be Too Costly

Posted on July 9, 2015January 29, 2024 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

The world has reached a point where everything is dependent on a set of codes. From the cars that you drive to military vehicles, and department stores to top secret military installation, everything runs on computer programs. The integration of software to our day to day life has truly made life easier.
As helpful as software has been, they have also contributed to some of the most bizarre and catastrophic losses to nations and companies worldwide. Most of these have occurred due to improper software testing methodologies.

The results were devastating in terms of financial damages and in the some serious cases, even human life was sacrificed. This blog brings insight into some of the most outrageous events that took place in history by reliving those moments.
More often than not, software integration using computers gets it right and gets the job done. But when things start to fall apart, all hell breaks loose.
1. Almost World War III

On the night of September 26, 1983, the early warning system of the Soviet alerted of a nuclear strike launched by America. What could have been a worldwide bloodshed was averted, thanks to the Soviet Air Defence officer Stanislav Petrov. Later he said in the Washington Post that he “had a funny feeling in my gut” about the authenticity of the warning. Investigations proved that the alarm system was faulty.
2. Faulty Mars Climate Orbiter

NASA is known for many blunders, but none more embarrassing than what happened with its Mars Climate Orbiter. Launched on December 11, 1998, the mission to better understand the only other planet capable of supporting life in our solar system would bring United States to the forefront in astronomical research.
But what happened was quite different. An error in the ground-based computer software resulted in a $326.7 million lose to the agency. The Orbiter went missing after 286 days of its launch. Software testing showed that a slight miscalculation caused the Orbiter to enter Mars’s atmosphere at the wrong entry point causing it to disintegrate.
3. Bug Triggered Blackout

Eight US states and Canada were given a scare by a tiny bug in the software thread affecting 50 million people. What the authorities described as a race condition bug, was caused when two separate threads of a single operation used the same element of code. The lack of synchronization caused the threads to tangle and eventually crash the system. This caused 256 power plants to go offline causing major disruptions and widespread panic.
4. Glitch in Patriot Missiles

The bugs that were mentioned so far were responsible for some major financial loses but the software error in the Patriot Missiles caused the lives of 28 with an additional 100+ injured. The missiles were designed to protect the American barracks from the scud missile during the Gulf war. But the bug caused a delay in tracking the missiles real-time rendering the barracks defenceless to the Iraqi attacks. The loss of human life is what makes this one of the most costly software testing mistakes in history.
5. The IRS Debacle

The Internal Revenue Service lost something between $200 and $300 million in revenue in 2006 while depending on computer software to find potential fraud cases in returns claiming refunds. The tax collection agency later found that the software was inoperable, but by then it was too late.
6. $440 million in 30 Minutes

The losses were even higher for Knight Capital Group, when the bugs in the company’s trading algorithm decided to buy high and sell low on 150 different stocks. A market-making firm that had an outstanding reputation up until August of 2012 managed to hit rock-bottom in just 30 minutes; surely it has to be a world record.
By the time the company addressed the issue the losses were cataclysmic. The company lost $440 million as compared to their net income of $296 million in 2011. Even the company stock price dropped 62 percent in one day, according to Bloomberg Business week.
7. 450 Violent Offenders Given Parole

This embarrassing and dangerous event took place in California when 450 high-risk prisoners were released into the public. The state which decided to reduce its prison population by 33,000, releasing non-violent offenders, instead went on to grant non-revocable paroles to approximately 450 violent felons. A huge misread by the software algorithm. Many of them remain free even today.
8. The AT&T Crisis

On January 15, 1990 around 60,000 AT&T customers were denied the luxury of making long distance calls. Initially the company believed it was being hacked until finally the real culprit was found in the form of a software bug.
The company updated its software to make the processes faster. Well, be careful what you wish for. The process became faster than expected and the server sent two messages to the subsequent server causing the switches to reboot in a loop. By the time the issue was taken care of, AT&T has lost $60 million in long distance charges for the dropped calls.