Mnemonics and Heuristics

“A heuristic, is any approach to problem solving, learning, or discovery that employs a practical method not guaranteed to be optimal or perfect, but sufficient for the immediate goals.” Wikipedia

“A mnemonic device is a mind memory and/or learning aid. Mnemonics rely on associations between easy-to-remember constructs which can be related back to the data that is to be remembered.” Wikipedia.

Remember that all heuristics are fallible.

These are the mnemonics and heuristics I use the most:

RCRCRC

Regression Testing Heuristics by Karen N. Johnson
Recent, Core, Risk, Configuration, Repaired, Chronic

SFDIPOT (San Francisco Depot)

Test Strategy Heuristics by James Bach and Michael Bolton
Structure, Function, Data, Integrations, Platform, Operations, Time

CRUSSPIC STMPL Quality Characteristics Heuristics by James Bach

Capability, Reliability, Usability, Security, Scalability, Performance, Installability, Compatibility, Supportability, Testability, Maintainability, Portability, Localizability

A variation to these heuristics can be found here. I like the added Charisma-heuristic http://thetesteye.com/blog/2010/11/software-quality-characteristics-1-0/

FEW HICCUPS

Test Oracles by Michael Bolton

Familiarity, Explainability, World,  History, Image, Comparable Product, Claims, User Expectations, Product, Purpose, Standards and Statutes,

RIMGEA

Bug Advocacy Mnemonic by Cem Kaner

Replicate it, Isolate it, Maximize it, Generalize it, Externalize it, And Say it Clearly and Dispassionately

MOCHA

For asking questions in e.g an interview – by Maria Kedemo

Meta, Open, Closed, Hypothetical, Audit

 

 

Here are some more which you might find useful