A survey of software inspection checklists

Abstract

Software inspection processes call for a checklist to provide reviewers with hints and recommendations for finding defects during the examination of a workproduct. Many checklists have been published since Michael Fagan created the inspection process in the mid-1970's. This paper surveys 117 checklists from 24 sources. Different categories of checklist items are discussed and examples are provided of good checklist items as well as those that should be avoided.