testing with an accent: internationalization testing
DESCRIPTION
Finding time to test the basic functionality, performance, and security of a system is difficult enough, so how do you find time to add internationalization (i18n) and localization (l10n) testing? Today’s world is very small, and you may already have international users in your target market. Can you really afford to ignore those who can’t enter their name correctly with the default US-ASCII character set? Will it still be a quality product to them? Paul Carvalho shares how you can—with a little creative thinking and design—incorporate i18n and l10n testing into your regular routine. Great testing requires the right mindset, applied insight, preparation, and dedication. Learn how to identify the system elements that pose juicy risks; go beyond looking at the UI, using simple tools and tricks you can try right away; and discuss ways to integrate i18n into your functional testing in a fun way with little overhead. Impress your co-workers and delight your customers!TRANSCRIPT
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T12 Special Topics
5/2/2013 11:15:00 AM
Testing with an Accent:
Internationalization Testing
Presented by:
Paul Carvalho
STAQS
Brought to you by:
340 Corporate Way, Suite 300, Orange Park, FL 32073
888-268-8770 ∙ 904-278-0524 ∙ [email protected] ∙ www.sqe.com
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Paul Carvalho
A software test consultant and trainer, quality architect, and agile coach, Paul Carvalho helps his clients build test-infected development teams with a holistic and congruent approach to quality. With twenty-five years of building software in many different industries, Paul is considered an expert in software testing and is part of the context-driven software testing community. A regular speaker at conferences, networking groups, and practitioner workshops, Paul tests, tweets, blogs, loves scripting with Ruby, and has published articles in Better Software magazine and Agile Journal. Paul helps software companies overcome development inertia to become world-class leaders in delivering quality and value. Learn more about Paul at STAQS.com.
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Primer for Internationalisation Testing
© 2013 Paul Carvalho 1
Testing with an Accent
Paul Carvalhohttp://staqs.com
@can_test
STAREAST 2013
A Primer for Internationalisation
What does it mean to me?
@can_test
Internationalisation
Localisation
Globalisation
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Primer for Internationalisation Testing
© 2013 Paul Carvalho 2
@can_test http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_your_base
@can_test
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Primer for Internationalisation Testing
© 2013 Paul Carvalho 3
Some years ago, workers at an African port didn’t recognise this symbol on the boxes.They thought the contents were broken and threw all the boxes into the sea!
⇒ Don’t assume pictures or symbols will be interpreted the same across the world.⇒ Globalization problem
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@can_test
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Primer for Internationalisation Testing
© 2013 Paul Carvalho 4
Key Questions
• Localisation:– Do you know if you are offending someone?
• Globalisation:– Do others understand
things the same way you do?
• Internationalisation:– Does it work?
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Primer for Internationalisation Testing
© 2013 Paul Carvalho 5
The Players: Who Tests i18n?
• Tester, Developer, Product Owner, Tech Writer• Anyone interested in checking that the software:
• works and makes sense for people in other languages/locations• doesn’t offend someone in a different language
NOTE: You do NOT need to know another language to be good at this kind of testing!
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Process Technology
People
The Context: Definitions
• Internationalisation - a.k.a. i18n• the process of designing and coding a product so it
can perform properly when it is modified for use in different languages and locales.
• Localisation - a.k.a. L10n• the process, on a properly internationalised base
product, of translating messages and documentation as well as modifying other locale-specific files.
What does Testing look
like here?
(i.e. the
framework,
capability)
(i.e. the
content, or
specifics for
a particular
region)
@can_test
Technology
People
Process
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Primer for Internationalisation Testing
© 2013 Paul Carvalho 6
@can_test
The Context: Relationships
Technology
People
Process
Systems Analysis
Distributed app
Computer/DeviceHardware
3rd Party tools
Application
Servers
Client
Web
Application
Database
Desktop/Laptop
Tablet
Mobile phone
Q: What does yourTest Strategy cover?
@can_test
People
Process Technology
• inputs• storage• outputs
Operating System
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Primer for Internationalisation Testing
© 2013 Paul Carvalho 7
i18n Test Strategy Guideline
1) Research your target audience(s)2) Test UI3) Test Data Inputs4) Test Data Flow5) Check/confirm/validate with the Locals
(They don’t call it “Localisation” testing for nothing)
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Process
People
Technology
i18n Testing
(2) Testing the UI
• Start with the UI - Does it look right?Changing your “Regional Settings” is a quick way to size up the scope of L10N applied.
(WHAT) Things to look for in App UI include:
• Correct language appears - everywhere!• Number formatting• Currency symbols• Time & Date format; Time Zones• Buttons, labels, menus correctly wrap
longer strings
Warning: many things still missed this way!
Tip: Install a different-language OS to discover more differences.
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Primer for Internationalisation Testing
© 2013 Paul Carvalho 8
@can_test
Sample UI i18n bugs: How many do you see here? (What are your oracles?)
i18n Téstïng Tïp
• Check i18n with a made-up string set• For example, copy your “strings” file so
that your labels, buttons, etc. use different characters
Before: “Enter your username”After: “Le Entér yôür üsérnåmé.Still readable. Identify missing strings quickly.
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Primer for Internationalisation Testing
© 2013 Paul Carvalho 9
http://xkcd.com/1179/@can_test
ASIDE:
(3) Testing Data Inputs
• Does the system accept what you input?
• Testing Tips:• use names with accented characters:
– e.g. Édouard, Jérôme, Željko• names with apostrophes: Miles O’Brien• double-byte characters: Chinese, Japanese, ...
• Apply these everywhere, not just Name fields:• file and folder names, company names, other record types• usernames, passwords, email addresses• Search fields, ...
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Primer for Internationalisation Testing
© 2013 Paul Carvalho 10
(4) Testing Data Flow
• Does the system work with what you input?
• Does the data correctly:a) save (to file, database) and retrieve? (CRUD)b) display? (in lists, drop-downs, title bars, different fonts, etc.)c) transform? (e.g. capitalisation, etc.)d) sort?e) print?
• Web apps - correctly encode strings (for URL’s, etc.)?• WARNING: 3rd Party tools & integrations = Fail Magnets
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(5) Check with Locals
• Sometimes the correct context requires more than just a string translation.
• The Monty Python Heuristic
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Primer for Internationalisation Testing
© 2013 Paul Carvalho 11
Putting it Together
• What are some ways to integrate this into your Testing?
• What do you think?
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Références
Articles:• “Testing with an Accent”
– by Paul Carvalho, Better Software, Feb. 2005• “As a tester do you think globally?”
– by Karen Johnson, Tea-time with Testers, Jan. 2012• “Bare Minimum Internationalization”
– by Rick Scott, StickyMinds.com, Apr. 2012• “What’s Wrong With Turkey?”
– by Jeff Atwood, CodingHorror.com, Mar. 2008• “Translation is UX”
– by Antoine Lefeuvre, AListApart.com, Dec. 2012
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Primer for Internationalisation Testing
© 2013 Paul Carvalho 12
RéférencesAdvice from big orgs:
• http://www.w3.org/International/• http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/Aa292185• http://developers.sun.com/dev/gadc/des_dev/Intl_Testing.html
References:• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internationalization_and_localization• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Google_domains• World Currency Symbols: http://www.xe.com/symbols.php
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RéférencesTools:
• Translators:– http://translate.google.com– http://babelfish.yahoo.com– Did You Know: MS Word has built-in translator
• Test Data:– International News pages (check other Google domains)– Humorous Random Phrase Generator:
http://www.smartphrase.com/– Translations of “My hovercraft is full of eels”:
http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/hovercraft.htm– International Baby Name lists
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Muchas gracias
• Contact info: Paul Carvalhohttp://STAQS.comTwitter: @can_test