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Developer Testing - Arguments Against

publish date: 2026/06/19 10:41:43.553962 UTC

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What is the strongest argument against developers being solely responsible for testing their own code?

Regulatory standards always require a separate testing team for all software

Developers have a vested interest in showing their code works and may unconsciously design tests that avoid revealing defects

Developers do not have enough time to also test their code

Developers lack the tools required for systematic testing

Correct Answer

Developers have a vested interest in showing their code works and may unconsciously design tests that avoid revealing defects

Explanation

The strongest argument against developer-only testing is psychological bias. Developers have a vested interest in demonstrating that their code works and may unconsciously avoid tests that reveal defects in their work. They may also make the same systematic assumptions in testing that they made when writing the code, causing them to miss an entire class of defects. A separate team brings a fresh, objective perspective.

Reference

Software Engineering, Ian Sommerville, 10th edition

Quizzes you can take where this question appears

Software Testing - Exercises