Defect Bash / Bug Bash
Defect bash or bug bash is an ad hoc testing where people performing different roles in an organization test the product together at the same time. The testing by all the participants during defect bashing is not based on written test cases. What is to be tested is left to an individual’s decision and creativity. A usual defect bash / bug bash lasts half a day and is usually done when the software is close to being ready to release.
There are two types of defects that will emerge during a defect bash. The defects that are in the product, as reported by the users, can be classified as functional defects. Defects that are unearthed while monitoring the system resources, such as memory leak, long turnaround time, missed requests, high impact and utilization of system resources and so on are called non-functional defects.
Defect bash is a unique testing method which can bring out both functional and non-functional defects.
[For more on Bug Bashes read Software Testing: Principles and Practice By Srinivasan Desikan, Gopalaswamy]