Any Functionality | Build logical chains for progressive exploratory testing | Exploratory Testing | Chain-of-Thought Prompt

Purpose
Any Functionality | Build logical chains for progressive exploratory testing | Exploratory Testing | Chain-of-Thought Prompt

QE Category
Exploratory Testing

Prompt Type
Chain-of-Thought

Typical SUTs and Quality Phases
Exploratory testing in distributed systems, SaaS platforms, and enterprise applications, where interconnected insights are key to uncovering hidden vulnerabilities and edge cases.

Prompt Template Copy

Role: A logical and detail-oriented exploratory tester uncovering system behaviors through sequential reasoning.
Context: Investigate [Functionality] using a logical chain-of-thought approach. Start with an exploratory question and build progressive test ideas based on hypotheses, observations, and follow-ups. Use the following system details:

- Purpose: [System Purpose]

- Assumptions: [Known Assumptions or Risks]

- Dependencies: [Critical Dependencies or Interactions]

- Constraints: [System Constraints]
Task: Generate a chain-of-thought exploratory plan that:

1. Begins with key exploratory questions about [Functionality].

2. Hypothesizes system behavior based on provided details.

3. Proposes scenarios to validate or challenge these hypotheses.

4. Logs observations and insights after each scenario.

5. Evolves test ideas dynamically based on observations.
Focus on:

- Asking insightful questions that guide deep exploratory testing.

- Creating hypotheses that challenge system assumptions and constraints.

- Generating interconnected test scenarios that refine as testing progresses.
Instructions: Deliver outputs as a continuous flow of logical steps, ensuring each step builds on the prior one. Include the following:

1. Exploratory Question

2. Hypothesis

3. Test Scenario

4. Observations

5. Follow-Up Ideas
Output:

- Logical chain of thought for exploratory testing.

- Test Ideas tied to hypotheses and observations.

- Dynamic refinement of scenarios based on findings.

Example Usage Copy

Role: A logical and detail-oriented exploratory tester uncovering system behaviors through sequential reasoning.
Context: Investigate distributed caching in a SaaS analytics platform using a logical chain-of-thought approach. Start with an exploratory question and build progressive test ideas based on hypotheses, observations, and follow-ups. Use the following system details:

- Purpose: To cache frequently queried analytics data for faster response times.

- Assumptions: Cached data is consistent across regions and updated every 5 minutes.

- Dependencies: Synchronization between regional cache servers.

- Constraints: Maximum cache size of 10GB per region; TTL of 300 seconds.
Task: Generate a chain-of-thought exploratory plan that:

1. Begins with key exploratory questions about caching behaviors.

2. Hypothesizes system behavior based on provided details.

3. Proposes scenarios to validate or challenge these hypotheses.

4. Logs observations and insights after each scenario.

5. Evolves test ideas dynamically based on observations.
Focus on:

- Asking insightful questions that guide deep exploratory testing.

- Creating hypotheses that challenge system assumptions and constraints.

- Generating interconnected test scenarios that refine as testing progresses.
Instructions: Deliver outputs as a continuous flow of logical steps, ensuring each step builds on the prior one. Include the following:

1. Exploratory Question

2. Hypothesis

3. Test Scenario

4. Observations

5. Follow-Up Ideas
Output:

- Logical chain of thought for exploratory testing.

- Test Ideas tied to hypotheses and observations.

- Dynamic refinement of scenarios based on findings.
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Chain-of-Thought Example Output:

1. Exploratory Question: What happens if two regions update the same cached data simultaneously?

2. Hypothesis: The system resolves conflicts by retaining the most recent update.

3. Test Scenario: Simulate concurrent updates to cached data from two regions and observe how the conflict is resolved.

4. Observations: The system overwrites with the latest timestamp but does not log the conflict for audit purposes.

5. Follow-Up Ideas:

   - Test what happens if the timestamps are identical.

   - Investigate how conflicts are logged or flagged for manual review.

Tested in GenAI Tools
Extensively optimized for ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Perplexity-- delivering reliable and actionable results across leading GenAI platforms.

Value of the Prompt
This prompt mimics a tester's logical reasoning process, encouraging interconnected insights and deeper exploration. It helps uncover complex vulnerabilities and systemic risks through hypothesis-driven test ideas.

Hands-On Exercise
Explore the fault tolerance of a distributed database. Start with exploratory questions like 'How does the system handle node failures during write operations?' Generate hypotheses and scenarios to test data consistency and synchronization under failure conditions.

Want More?
Use Chain-of-Thought to expand your exploratory testing into uncharted areas. Challenge system assumptions and constraints dynamically, uncovering insights that drive impactful improvements.

Author
Ashwin Palaparthi