Cases Quote by Glenford Myers
“A good test case is a test case that has a high probability of detecting an undiscovered error, not a test case that show that the program works correctly.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Art of Software Testing, 1979
A test case should be designed to uncover hidden bugs, not just confirm correct behavior.
In simple terms: Design tests to find errors, not just prove success.
Key Takeaway
Focus on error detection.
Themes
software testing
quality assurance
risk management
Mood
analytical
critical
focused
Type
advisory
technical
When to use this quote
- debugging
- quality audits
- continuous integration
- regression testing
- null
Key Concepts
test coverage
fault detection
probability analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you measure a test case's error‑finding potential?
- What balance between positive and negative testing is optimal?
A Different Perspective
A test that only confirms correct behavior may miss critical defects.
![“Not only is [a half marathon] a good test for the marathon, it is also good for those who feel they were just getting going in a 10K and are physically and mentally primed to go further. A half marathon is a good test of your endurance, without the physical punishment of going the full 26.2 miles…” quote by Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c6a/grete-waitz-17018_cycles_not-only-is-a-half-marathon-a-good-test_1171363.jpg)
![“[As in the case of] alcohol prohibition, illegality has driven organized crime, sent countless people to jail, and killed many thousands. Repression does not work.” quote by Sam Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/212/sam-branson-36458_alcohol_as-in-the-case-of-alcohol-prohibition-il_8703.jpg)
