9 Tips To Improve The Efficiency Of Software Testing
Software testing is not just about testing. It's about providing quality to users. Testing helps to improve the quality of the software and increases the efficiency and speed of the project.
Identifying an effective testing strategy early in the software development cycle will help you detect and repair defects. The sooner you find bugs, the less it will cost. According to NIST, the cost of errors increases as the software lifecycle progresses. So how do you ensure high-quality software testing in your company?
1. Use Test Driven Development Strategies
Test Driven Development (TDD) is a software development practice that focuses on building unit test cases before developing the actual code. Development is an iterative approach that combines unit test development and refactoring. If the code fails the test, you should fix it and move on to the next function.
The TDD approach is derived from the Agile Manifesto and Extreme Programming. As the name suggests, the testing process guides software development. It is also a structured practice that allows developers and testers to receive optimized code that proves to be sustainable in the long run.
In TDD, developers start creating small test cases for each function based on their initial understanding. The main purpose of this technique is to change or write new code only after tests fail. This avoids duplicate test scripts.
2. Apply User Acceptance Testing
User Acceptance Testing (UAT), also known as beta testing or end-user testing, is defined as testing software to determine whether it can be accepted by a user or customer. It is the final test after the functional, system and regression tests are completed.
The main purpose of this test is to validate the software to meet business requirements. This validation is performed by end users who are familiar with the business requirements.
The main purpose of this testing is to validate the software against the business requirements. This validation is carried out by the end-users who are familiar with the business requirements.
As the User Acceptance Test is the final test before the software is released, this is of course the customer's last chance to test the software and measure if it fits their purpose.
That's why you need to rate your product. You can hire professional UAT testers or involve end users independently in the evaluation process. As a result, you can gain valuable insights that help improve the usability of your app.
3. Testing Plan And QA Process
A test plan is a document that describes what is tested when it is tested, how to test it, and who will do the tests. It also explains the scope and functions of the test. The test plan includes the test objectives to be achieved and helps manage risk.
A good testing plan should include a schedule of all testing activities needed to manage the team's testing time. It should also define the roles of each team member so that everyone knows what is required. According to the IEEE 829 standard, the test plan document should contain the following information:
- Test plan identifier
- Introduction
- References (list of related documents)
- Test items (the product and its versions)
- Software risk issues
- Features to be tested
- Features not to be tested
- Approach (Strategy)
- Item pass or fail criteria
- Suspension criteria
- Deliverables (test plan document, test cases, tools, error logs, problem reports, etc.)
- Test environment (hardware, software, tools)
- Schedule
- Staffing and training needs
- Responsibilities
- Risks
- Approvals
Another option, Google's query technology, is based on several software development factors: implementation cost, maintenance cost, monetary cost, risk and benefit.
The standardized approach avoids confusion when creating a test plan. Following familiar documents eliminates arguments from your team and speeds up the process.
4. Combine exploratory and Ad-hoc testing
These tests are based on maximum creativity and an exceptional understanding of the product. They are somewhat similar to UAT tests, but still a different approach.
Exploratory testing is closer to formal methods. Useful for projects that require minimal documentation. Test texts are not prepared in advance. Quality assurance managers only focus on predefined goals. They take spontaneous actions and tend to think outside the box.
Ad hoc tests are even more informal and creative. It has no purpose or rules. It does not require any documents. Testers randomly check the software, relying solely on their intuition and experience.
After all, standard testing techniques and ad hoc tests are performed to find missing defects.
5. Conduct Formal Technical Reviews
Formal Technical Review (FTR) is a software quality control activity performed by software engineers. FTR's goal is to give young engineers the opportunity to get a closer look at analysis, design, coding, and testing.
Every FTR is organized like a meeting and is only considered successful if it is properly planned and tracked. Each review meeting shall be conducted with the following restrictions -Involvement of people:
- 3, 4 and 5 people must participate in the review.
- Preparation should be done in advance, but it should be very short, no more than 2 hours per person.
- The short duration of the review meeting should be less than two hours. Given these limitations, it should be clear that FTR focuses on specific (and smaller) parts of all software.
This is the best time to review your schedule and achieve your goals. One person creates a summary of all assigned topics and sends this file to all participants.
6. Optimize The Use Of Automated Testing
Automated testing is not a complete replacement for manual testing. However, it is a good solution for many repetitive testing tasks.
You can improve this process with a test automation platform. It is a set of various tools and guidelines for creating test cases. The most useful functions of such a framework are to generate test data, run tests, and analyze test results.
Testing automated frameworks can also scale your business and adapt to the increasing workload of your business.
Recently, the engineering team at Facebook posted a blog post about how they use the hybrid SapFix and Sapienz AI tools for testing and debugging. They can independently create several possible bug fixes, assess the quality of the application, and wait for expert approval.
These tools are expected to turn into open-source software in the near future.
7. Measure Code Quality
Measuring code quality allows you to use and maintain high-quality software or programs that work well for your customers and users. If your QA team has clear quality indicators, it knows exactly what it needs to test.
Alternatively, you can consider a software quality model. It is a standardized way of measuring software. This model identifies four main issues: security, reliability, performance and maintainability. For example, performance refers to weaknesses that affect the use and response time of the hardware.
Each part contains a detailed description and a set of standards. In total, this model contains over 100+ rules that every software engineer should study.
8. Report Bugs Effectively
If your bug report is successful, it has a better chance of being fixed. Therefore, fixing a bug depends on how successfully you report it. Reporting a bug is just a skill, and in this tutorial, we'll explain how to acquire that skill.
A good bug report should be clear and concise without skipping key points. The lack of clarity leads to confusion and also slows down the creation process. Writing and error reporting are one of the most important but neglected areas of the test lifecycle.
For example, at TPP Software, we use the standard error reporting template. It includes several special points: priority; area; correspondent; accredited; affects the version; correct version; component; Situation; Problem Description; prerequisites; reproductive stages; Current results; Expected result; Additional information; appendices; links to history/task (or related issue).
The important information that the bug report should communicate is "How?" and where?". The report should clearly state how the test was performed and where the error occurred. The reader should easily reproduce the error and find where it is.
9. Build a supportive team
Create a friendly and supportive environment for your QA team. Psychological well-being affects a person's productivity and work performance.
First, the quality control functions are defined. When each team member knows their area of responsibility, it prevents misunderstandings and disputes.
Second, encourage communication and collaboration. Hold team meetings to discuss current issues, chat privately with teammates, and hold retrospectives to rationally discuss failures or celebrate successes.
Well-structured communication supports creativity and helps you complete tasks much faster.
