You Are Not Done Yet: CPU Configurations

You are not done testing yet unless...

You have tested across multiple CPU configurations. A common pitfall I see over and over is having every last developer and tester use exactly the same make, model, and configuration of computer. This is especially prevalent in computer labs. Yes, having every machine be exactly the same simplifies setup, troubleshooting, etc. etc. But this is not the world in which your customers live!

This holds true even if you're writing line of business applications for a corporation where the computing environment is tightly controlled and locked down. That "standard" configuration will change on a regular basis, and it will take months or years to complete the switch over. (By which time the standard of course has moved on!)

So be sure to sprinkle the following throughout your development organization (by which term I include dev, test, PM, docs, and anyone else that helps create your app):

• Processors from multiple vendors (i.e., Intel and AMD if you're building Windows applications)


• Multiple versions of each brand of processor (e.g., for Intel, mobile and desktop Celerons and Pentiums)


• Single-, dual-, and multi-processors


• Single-, dual, and multi-core processors


• Hyperthreaded and non-hyperthreaded processors


• Desktop and laptop configurations


• 32-bit and 64-bit configurations

Posted by The Braidy Tester at 07:30 AM  Permalink