Amazing amount of mileage out of this one test file

One of the accumulations that happens to testers over time is the build up of a staggering array of test files.  Files that use "odd" characters in Japanese, a Finnish test script, an absolutely huge Excel file, etc…  I tend to keep any file that ever exposed a bug around, use it in automation and use it for ad hoc testing as time goes by.

I also have one very simple file that I use quite often.  Very basic, but very good for "smoke testing" : simply ensuring a new feature doesn't crash right out of the gate.

It's just a csv file with some simple numbers and text in it:

x	y	z	name
2	-1	4	ant
4	0	-2	bat
6	3.1	1.5	cat
-1	0.2	3	dog

Super basic, but fast to load.  It also has a mix of integers and floating point numbers, named columns, some text values and multiple rows of data.  I use it at least a half dozen times per week and I wanted to share this since it makes a good point that sometimes a simple test case is enough to provide some value.  If my test - whatever it is - fails with this file, I know I am blocked and I can file a bug and move on.

And if it passes, then I know I can start to dive further into the test matrix I have.  There's no guarantee that any of those other tests will pass.  But since I love analogies, I see it like this.

This simple test matrix is the equivalent of starting a car.  If it fails, I know I won't be testing the brakes or driving on the highway.  But just because the car starts I still can't tell if it will work when put in gear.  But at least I know the basic test - the engine works, in this analogy - is passing.

Questions, comments, concerns and criticisms always welcome,

John