Completing a programming project from scratch to production is like building a house. After you lay out the foundation, set up the frames and walls, complete the roof, and install the doors and windows, you feel that most of the house is done. But when you proceed to interior decoration, such as flooring, lights, furniture, and closets, you’ll realize that it’s still far from completion.
You’ve worked hard on your application for three months, feeling that you’ve completed 90% of the project. Before you push it into production, however, you must ensure its performance by debugging and testing it rigorously. It wouldn’t surprise me if the last estimated 10% costs you another three months—the same amount of time you needed for the first 90%. The debugging and testing phase is analogous to the interior decoration of a house—it’s so essential that your application can’t live without it—and you don’t want to hear your client’s complaints after launch day. Thus, let’s tackle the debugging and testing jobs while the application is still in our possession. In this chapter, you’ll learn the essential techniques that you can apply to conduct a rigorous final touch-up of your application: debugging and testing.