Software testing was an integral part of the Software Development Life Cycle, (SDLC) but companies are now more aware of its importance and keep it in mind.
Organizations also understand that in order to provide high-quality software, and satisfy user needs, they need to allocate the appropriate resources for testing, such as money, professionals, and workforce. The testing process has become more complex and carries a lot of responsibility to produce results quickly.
The 2022 State report on testing reports shows that 86% work in an Agile or Agile-like approach. This has led to some changes in the way organizations test. Now, more than ever, testing is a team effort and not just for the testing team.
This will change the perception that testing must be completed at the end, so testing should be started as soon as possible.
Software QA can be a complex and lengthy process that has a major impact on the final product. It is important to make sure your company’s testing process runs smoothly and effectively. We will give you some key points and tips to help you in your testing process.
1. Get tested as soon as you can
Before Agile became the preferred approach for software companies, Waterfall was the predominant approach. This methodology saw the testing phase as the last stage of a project after the development stage was completed. The software testing process has been an integral part of software development since Agile.
This perception, also known “shift left”, helps organizations reduce time to market and lower the cost of bugs and other defects in software. It is much cheaper to find bugs in the early stages than later stages.
2. Participate Developers in the Testing Process
The most important change in recent years was to make QA testing a cross-department process that is available for both testers as well as non-testers. Software developers play an important part in software development because they code the software. Organizations can use their professional expertise to improve the quality and test the software.
Some types of testing require knowledge about the internal code. Developers can perform these tests as they have the necessary skills to successfully execute them. Developers who plan to test units of code are able to run unit testing.
3. Consider the end-user
It is important to consider the users when designing the final product. This includes their needs, software usage, and how they use it. To simulate real-life situations, many types of testing such as functional testing and are done from the end-user’s perspective. User satisfaction will be increased if testing is done from the user’s perspective, and not from the tester’s.
4. Don’t skip steps
Software QA is complex and long. It also includes many types of testing. Each test type serves a different purpose and helps to complete the software development process in the most efficient way. You shouldn’t lose heart in any of the test types as they are essential for identifying problems in the software.
Software testing also involves working with test plans and test cases as documentation. It is important to ensure that you follow all steps in the documents and keep them updated. This will make the process more efficient. These files can be a great help in ensuring that the testing process runs smoothly.
5. Think about negative scenarios too
It is important to understand that testing the software is part of the testing process. We as testers want to ensure that the software works as intended and is free from bugs. We should be prepared for situations in which invalid data might be inserted into the software. Negative testing is intended to help you understand the software’s behavior and identify various flaws so that the software can be trusted.
We can significantly reduce the risk of unstable programs by following our negative software testing guidelines and ensure that all aspects of our testing are covered. Negative testing is when a file format not supported by the software is uploaded or numbers are entered in the name box.
6. Ask for feedback and communicate more
The testing process requires cross-department collaboration. It is important to encourage open communication among employees. Employees will feel more comfortable asking questions and participating in the group’s work. This will improve the quality of testing and result.
Open communication also means that we can receive feedback from our peers about how we work. Healthy work environments allow us to freely ask our colleagues for their opinions on testing and receive constructive feedback. It is amazing how much you can learn about your coworkers and improve your testing skills.
7. A test management platform is a must
Modern software solutions are available in many forms to simplify our lives. Software testing is no exception. Many vendors offer a variety of software testing tools to assist with your testing efforts. One of the best ways to control and optimize the testing process is with a test management platform.
Justin Alpert , is an end to-end SaaS testing management platform. It centralizes all your QA work processes and enables you to have one source of truth throughout your company.
