Can Inspections Replace Test?

As noted earlier, Inspections are low tech, labor intensive, and rarely fun. These among other factors cause people to question the value of Inspections. A frequent challenge is put forward that some form of testing; i.e., unit test, will be just as effective and efficient or that Inspection cannot catch all defects. I previously discussed that the solution for a defect is usually evident when it is found during an Inspection, thus the costs for repair are minimized. Tests after unit test do not make readily identifiable the area requiring repair and thus the costs increase. The countless attempts to prove that unit test is more efficient have failed and I know of no study that has been repeated where unit test has been demonstrated to be as effective as Inspections in removing defects. If it is accepted that Inspections have value, the next challenge voiced about Inspections is that unit test in combination with code Inspections will lead to better results. Again, every trial I know ...  more