Mark Swillus

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  • An instrument to measure factors that constitute the socio-technical context of testing experience

    https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2505.01171

    We consider testing a cooperative and social practice that is shaped by the tools developers use, the tests they write, and their mindsets and human needs. This work is one part of a project that explores the human- and socio-technical context of testing through the lens of those interwoven elements: test suite and tools as technical infrastructure and collaborative factors and motivation......

    May 02, 2025
     · Mark Swillus  · Carolin Brandt  · Andy Zaidman
  • Publication
  • Who Cares About Testing?

    Co-creations of Socio-technical Software Testing Experiences

    https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2504.07208

    Software testing is crucial for ensuring software quality, yet developers' engagement with it varies widely. Identifying the technical, organizational and social factors that lead to differences in engagement is required to remove barriers and utilize enablers for testing. Much research emphasizes the usefulness of testing strategies and technical solutions, less is known about why......

    April 09, 2025
     · Mark Swillus  · Rashina Hoda  · Andy Zaidman
  • Publication
  • The qualitative factor in software testing

    A systematic mapping study of qualitative methods

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2023.111804

    Software testing research has provided metrics on efficiency, error rates, and insights into the effectiveness of testing methodologies and tools. However, these tell only a part of the story. The qualitative dimension, which studies experiences, perceptions, and decision-making processes is crucial, but less prevalent in literature. This study aims to systematically map qualitative......

    March 27, 2025
     · Baris Ardic  · Carolin Brandt  · Ali Khatami  · Mark Swillus  · Andy Zaidman
  • Publication
  • Deconstructing Sentimental Stack Overflow Posts Through Interviews

    Exploring the Case of Software Testing

    https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2304.11280

    The analysis of sentimental posts about software testing on Stack Overflow reveals that motivation and commitment of developers to use software testing methods is not only influenced by tools and technology. Rather, attitudes are also influenced by socio-technical factors. No prior studies have attempted to talk with Stack Overflow users about the sentimental posts that they write, yet,......

    April 22, 2023
     · Mark Swillus  · Andy Zaidman
  • Publication
  • Sentiment Overflow in the Testing Stack

    Analysing Sentimental Testing Posts on Stack Overflow

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2023.111804

    Software testing is an integral part of modern software engineering practice. Past research has not only underlined its significance, but also revealed its multi-faceted nature. The practice of software testing and its adoption is influenced by many factors that go beyond tools or technology. This paper sets out to investigate the context of software testing from the practitioners' point of......

    February 02, 2023
     · Mark Swillus  · Andy Zaidman
  • Publication
  • Let the Finger Pointing Begin

    Sentiment Overflow in the Testing Stack

    We know that many software projects do not adopt testing practices. But we still lack understanding of why practitioners do not test. I argue that filling this knowledge gap is required in order to take the right steps to tackle the lack of testing. I even go further and challenge tool developers and advocates of testing practices to reflect on how their effort is addressing this ”why?”. If......

    September 12, 2022
     · Mark Swillus
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