Notepad.

After experimenting with a Test Case Management application’s Session-Test tool, a colleague of mine noted the tool’s overhead (i.e., the non-test-related waiting and admin effort forced by the tool).  She said, I would rather just use Notepad to document my testing.  Exactly!

Notepad has very little overhead.  It requires no setup, no license, no logging in, few machine resources, it always works, and we don’t waste time on trivial things like making test documentation pretty (e.g., let’s make passing tests green!).

Testing is an intellectual activity, especially if you’re using automation.  The test idea is the start.  Whether it comes to us in the midst of a discussion, requirements review, or while performing a different test, we want to document it.  Otherwise we risk losing it.

Don’t overlook the power of Notepad.