Software testing tools - free and open!

There are a lot of opensource software testing tools covering a range of different functions and purposes. If you need a tool to support testing but have very little budget you could try these three sites to assess your options:

• Open Source Testing This site has an amazing directory of testing tools broken down into functional testing tools, performance testing tools, test management tools, bug databases, limk checkers and security test tools. For example, there were 60 functional test tools last time I looked.
• Web Test Tools This site covers web test tools. A lot of categories ranging from load and performance test tools, to Java test tools and regression testing automated tools. Not all the tools here are open source but there are plenty that are.
• Open Source software test tools research There is even publications available which assess the tools available. Published in September 2006 it retails at $240 a copy. Don't know if there is an open source version of this report that is free, but I doubt it.

These tools make a lot of tasks easier or faster. But remember, a fool with a tool is still a fool. Use them thoughtfully.

Load testing