by admin | Dec 21, 2019 | Software Testing, Fixed, Blog |
Accurate metrics and techniques can help ensure software testing service companies improve their testing processes. Teams should be equipped with the tools and methodologies for building bug-free products to provide high-quality software. Quality management covers three core aspects: quality assurance, quality control, and testing.
Software Quality Assurance (SQA) includes a planned set of organizational actions to improve the software development process by introducing standards of quality for preventing errors in the product.
Software Quality Control (SQC) includes a set of product-oriented activities focused on fulfilling quality requirements that certify software products before release.
Testing is a primary activity to detect and solve technical issues in the software source code and assess overall product usability, performance, security, and compatibility.
Let’s discuss how to improve the software testing process and increase the quality of your software products.
1. Plan tests and processes It should be well planned, defined, and documented as it is the tool that builds effective communication within the team.
2. Implement software development management Employ a test-oriented approach to improve the quality of your software and achieve this is by using extreme programming (EX) that will enable you to produce higher-quality software that can adapt to changing requirements.
3. Collect technical reviews A Formal Technical Review (FTR) is performed to reveal functional or logical errors at the early stages of the software development process. Every developed software needs to meet predefined standards and requires a team of QA/QC engineers.
4. Maintain a suitable work environment Define QA roles and ensure an appropriate environment wherein testing entails various activities that need to be performed by different specialists.
5. User acceptance testing In product development, customer personas identify behavior patterns of your typical target audience and their usage patterns. QA teams use personas to identify and seek bugs. Although it can’t predict in its entirety, it does ensure that your application is production-ready. Feedback during and after the production stage helps developers meet end-users needs.
6. Optimization of tests To improve the quality of your software, make sure you adopt Agile methodologies to deploy automated testing using tools to run the tests throughout the QA process.
7. Track code quality Since quality objectives are measurable, ensure that code quality is documented, reviewed, and tracked cyclically by choosing simple yet effective metrics for your workflow.
8. Accurate bug reportingThis makes testing more efficient by identifying bugs and assisting QA teams in resolving it soon.
Please remember that the main aspects of testing the quality of the software testing process are performance efficiency, security, reliability, maintainability, and timely delivery. It can also include testability and product usability.
If you want to be a leading QA company, like Codoid, you need to be competitive and produce high-quality products to achieve a good ranking in the IT industry market. Improving the quality of your software testing process will directly impact the financial performance of your business. Your quality strategy should, therefore, cover the critical aspects of software testing: Effective Planning, Test-oriented Quality Management, and an Experienced QA team. Don’t forget that years of experience in the testing phase guarantees that nothing is missed out in the software testing process flow.
by admin | Nov 8, 2019 | Software Testing, Fixed, Blog |
Only the best QA companies will be equipped with an expert team of testers, proficient in writing top quality test cases. A test case must be a meticulously drafted document, prior to executing a testing process and must include a range of essential details with regard to the testing process. This document would serve as a blueprint for testing including elements such as test data to be input, preconditions, possible and expected results, and much more.
A test case can be defined as a set of conditions and variables put together to ensure and verify the functionality of software against expected requirements. A company offering QA services within software testing, would be proficient in using test cases to uncover requirement issues, design an application, and be able to make the requisite changes that would validate the efficacy, functionality and quality of any software product.
Elements of a Test Case
Only the best software testing firm would understand the critical relevance of writing robust test cases. Such a company would cover features that would be important for a robust test case, thereby ensuring the effectiveness and accuracy of software testing. The features of a high-quality test case are listed below.
- Designed in accordance with the Software Requirement Specification.
- Ensure standardization and uniformity throughout the process of testing.
- Outlines the complete flow of specific requirements through test data and results expected
- Detailed information together that is easily understood, comprehensive, and concise.
- Contain a complete list of variables by which testers would be able to verify the functionality, optimal performance, testing requirement, and other critical aspects of the software.
- Serve as a benchmark/information document for future test cases and other testers.
Test Case Format
The main components of a good test case include an ID, a description, some inputs, actionable items, and expected and actual results.
Test case Title/Name: Any test must have a self-explanatory name.
The Description: This would include a brief narrative to let testers know what they are about to test.
Assumptions/Prerequisites: Any assumptions and prerequisites to be met before executing the test would need to be mentioned
Clear Test Steps: Clear, brief, yet comprehensive steps with necessary information to help with efficient test execution.
Data Set: This should provide optimal coverage, including both positive and negative scenarios.
Results Expected: This outlines what the testers should find at the end of the test steps.
Actual Result: The actual behavior of the application during test execution.
Miscellaneous: Additional and useful information, including but not limited to, screenshots, to help testers.
Putting Together a Good Test Case
An expert software testing/QA company will be proficient in all aspects of software, including writing the best test cases. A good test case would –
- Focus on aspect and would not be complicated or overlap
- Cover all positive and negative scenarios
- Easy to comprehend language in active voice, using uniform and exact names of elements
- Be accurate – stating the exact purpose
- Traceable to requirements
- Comprehensible and accessible in order to be used again
- Make it possible to perform the same test repeatedly
In Conclusion:
There is no doubt that test cases are extremely critical as the first step for any software testing project. Anything that were to go awry at this stage would have negative and possibly far-reaching effects in the life cycle of the project. Test cases are therefore highly potent documents to ensure that a system, its elements, and experience are exactly as they are anticipated. A business must invest in the services of a top QA company to ensure all this and more. We are the go-to company for every realm of software testing – connect with our experts.
by admin | Nov 7, 2019 | Software Testing, Fixed, Blog |
Currently, within the development environments, developers work on selected features and code without the involvement of QA teams. Once the code is done, it is passed on to the QA teams to test, and only if there is a bug do developers hear from the QA engineers – the typical ‘throwing the code over the wall’.
Software development companies continue to operate in this manner given that it is the traditional way of doing things – with software developers hardly interacting with their QA colleagues. Expert developers create top-quality code, features, and a strong infrastructure, but it is still possible for issues to arise. This happens because of their failure to look at the scope of the product in its entirety, lack of focus on details, or simply the inevitable human error. This is where the role of QA engineers comes to the fore – they need to meticulously test features to ensure that the product released to the market is of high quality. In the realm of software testing and as an expert QA company, we understand and manage the strife between developers and QA engineers. While developers hate code they script to be tested, QA engineers hate having to deal with the tough time that developers may give them. However, it is important to understand that the goal is the same for all – high-quality products. We have put together some phrases that developers often repeat, much to the chagrin of QA engineers – but all the same, it is about the spirit of working in unison and cohesively.
Developers often say:
“Strange – I can get it to work on my machine”The statement comes about when QA engineers find bugs that may have slipped past developers, unnoticed. This usually occurs when due to scale or varying structures the issue does not get reproduced on the environment that developers work within but is reproduced within the production environment. As a leader amongst some of the best QA companies, we understand that it is the environment, and hence both the teams must work together to investigate the issue and resolve it since the customer expects top-quality software.
“The bug you found, we checked and confirm that it is time to release”Upon finding the bug and returning the code to the developers, the mistake that developers make is to believe that it is possible to immediately release the code to production. However, the fixes checked need to go back to the QA team since the changes could possibly affect some other parts of the product, which developers may not be able to notice. Again, the idea is to put up a product that is error-free and top-notch quality – to ensure maximum ROI for the business.
“Are you using the new feature in the right way?”Developers may have done their best with the new feature / or with upgrading a current feature, and hence it is usually tough for them to believe that it is not working as designed. However, when the feature goes into testing, QA engineers may find that it does not work as anticipated for various reasons – it is important for developers to understand this and work with the QA team to ensure that the product reaching the customer is high quality.
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“No not a bug – this is how the feature is supposed to behave”It is obvious for developers to feel annoyed, when they have created what they believe to be a super quality feature, and the QA team tells them that there is a bug. The job of QA engineers is to view a system as a whole – including from the perspective of the user. While developers may not want to agree but it is necessary to keep communication open in order to produce the best for the customers. It is important for both sides to make time to understand the viewpoint of the other since doing so has undeniable rewards.
“You took too long to find the defect”After all the hard work that developers put together to create a code, it does become frustrating when at the last minute a bug is discovered. The feeling does creep in that the QA team took far too long to uncover the bug. However, it is necessary to understand that there is a systematic method to the process and it is never the intention of a QA team to take longer than is required.
“Test the latest / right version of the code – make sure you are”Developers often doubt whether QA personnel would be – using the new feature right, testing the latest version of the code. These doubts are unfounded since before testing the QA team would ensure that the commit is within the latest version of the code being tested.
As a professional and highly skilled QA company, we know that the end result must be a top-notch product for users – unless developers and QA teams work together this will not be possible. Both teams must take the initiative and enhance collaboration with each other in order to deliver a high-quality experience for the user. Both must remember that creating and testing are means to an end, which would be high quality and the best ROI for the business. For hassle-free and top-notch products, connect with us and let our experts take over.
by admin | Nov 6, 2019 | Software Testing, Fixed, Blog |
With time there have been newer technologies that are aimed at speeding up processes and customer demands have kept up with this pace, leading to expectations of higher quality software /applications in shorter timeframes. Customers are spoiled for choices and hence are unwilling to settle for anything less, making it critical for companies to adapt and improve and deliver high-quality solutions faster in order to maintain an edge. As a leading QA company we understand the need to maintain a fine balance between top quality and speedy release of the software – no compromises on either side.
We have been in business long enough and have helped a large number of customers to know the kind of challenges a continuous software delivery model poses, but we also have the solutions. For high-quality software and speedy delivery, it is necessary to follow some guidelines, simplify processes, use the right tools, and constantly upgrade skills – which is why we today are amongst the best QA companies. Let us look at how to create top-quality software with the speedy release – non-compromisingly!
Keeping Track Across the Development Lifecycle
Traceability is necessary for tracking the development lifecycle and to achieve regulatory compliance – helps to make faster and better decisions. The correct tools would ensure that QA advisors / experts would be able to manage the development feature backlog and to run automated tests. Using several tools can often be beyond the expertise of product owners, and hence can be a cumbersome and time-consuming process. As experts, we understand and are able to use a consolidated tool to improve both efficiency and accuracy of testing, while ensuring a high-quality product with a timely release.
It is not feasible or required to test every aspect before a release, but in order to be confident of the quality, testers must focus on the areas of the code where the most important changes were made. As experts, we understand the importance of learning from the product owner’s perspective, and our team completely understands which portions of the product will have new or updated code – this helps to prioritize tests. It makes sense to base the release criteria on newly added code.
Making Data Usage the Focus for Fixing Bugs
Removing bugs is one of the prime aspects of testing and achieving top quality, but it is important for testers to focus their efforts on bugs depending on usage data. This means analyzing which part of the application is used most and sorting out those issues first. However, this does not mean ignoring the rarely used portions, since they too could have bugs that could eventually create usage issues and lower the performance of the application.
Test Automation with a Double tier Methodology
The first tier for test automation is running sanity tests that are completed quickly and help to provide validation of changes by the developer. The second tier would run the more intense and comprehensive regression tests on automatic mode and experts would know how to get the balance right. Regression tests must be run in the final phase of product stabilization, which would be the go signal for production, and it would make sense to automate the regression cycle.
Meticulous Monitoring and Reporting System
Robust monitoring will throw up real-time feedback on any possible issues, allowing those working on the products to resolve defects faster. With a faster resolution of defects and issues, the team would be able to consistently create high-quality products in shorter timeframes.
Conducting Sanity Tests on Production
It is important to run post-release sanity tests in order to verify that all is working as required and expected. This will also save time and prevent any product from being released if it is not in ‘prime’ condition.
In Conclusion
As experts in QA engineering, we have seen a significant change in the way QA is performed and in the expectations of customers. We have kept pace with the changes and with the demand for frequent and high-quality releases by breaking away from traditional roles and methods. It is important to ensure that QA testers develop new skills, and learn new techniques in order to shorten development cycles, produce high-quality software, and remain engaged in the line of work of QA testing. We have the capability to make software future-ready – the top quality and with speed – connect with us to get more from less.
by admin | Nov 28, 2019 | Software Testing, Fixed, Blog |
Let’s get one thing clear; smoke testing is nothing but build verification testing. It is a type of software testing that aims at ensuring the most critical functions work and comprises a non-exhaustive set of tests. We can decide if a build is stable enough to proceed with further testing from the results of a smoke test. It is a play on the word smoke, taken from hardware testing, where if a device didn’t catch fire, it passed the test.
It can cover some of the primary functions of the software but none in depth. It does, however, help in exposing integration and other significant issues early on in the testing cycle. It is performed manually or with automation tools and functions on both enhanced or newly created software. We should automate smoke testing for frequent builds. The addition of more functionalities makes an application mature, and the smoke test needs to be expanded to meet the requirement because a single error in the code can render it entirely useless. It is not a substitute for regression/functional testing.
Remember these tips to master smoke tests and get optimum results for your business.
- Use it during the early stages of your project.
- Record all of them, and they should be less than 60 minutes.
- Conduct one every day for every sprint and release.
- Understand the difference between sanity & smoke testing.
- Maintain a test case repository.
- Automate the testing wherever possible.
- Use it to check basic but critical functionality.
Some of the advantages of smoke testing are that you can find bugs and defects in the early stages of testing, thereby minimizing the risks that arise when multiple components integrate. Significantly easy to perform, it saves time and effort of testers and developers while improving the software quality. Requires a limited number of test cases and enables troubleshooting of regression bugs for faster feedback. Reduces manual intervention and improves the effectiveness of the Q.A. team. It quickly exposes integration issues and provides some level of confidence in integration, system testing, and acceptance testing levels.
In conclusion,
Smoke test offers a simple yet effective way to find bugs fast in a build. That is why developers use smoke tests in software projects to weed bugs out of their codes and improve quality. Smoke tests should be a standard part of your software testing process. Your team will be better armed with the knowledge of what smoke testing is, its advantages, and various tips to maximize its value. I’m sure you are eager to find out just how to implement it. Here at Codoid, a trusted software testing services company , we believe prevention is better than cure. Let us eliminate the smoke from your business and clear a path to generate profits from clarity.
by admin | Nov 23, 2019 | Software Testing, Fixed, Blog |
It is a framework where all testing is maintained in a centralized service and shared across the company. Testing Center of Excellence helps standardize test processes and utilize resources optimally for test purposes. The creation of a TCoE means a company is committed to software quality and realizes that they focus too much on documentation rather than collaboration and on cost-cutting over improving quality and reducing risk. Transitioning into TCoE is a journey, and testing teams are always under pressure to reduce development time without compromising quality.
Traditional methods of quality assurance cannot keep up with the challenges in consistently delivering software that is time-bound, robust, and efficient. Due to this, more companies are leaning towards the idea of establishing a centralized testing service. Does your business need a TCoE? If your answer is ‘Yes’ to any of the following criteria, then it’s time to consider one.
Your QA aligns with the project rather than the company goals. When a centralized testing framework doesn’t exist, testing teams report to individuals. TCoE consolidates all testing functions so that testers can operate towards a common goal, aligned with the mission and vision of the company. Thus the QA team becomes more efficient.
There is limited cross-project visibility due to which resource utilization isn’t optimal under a traditional QA set up. With TCoE, testing resources are organized on the lines of technology and as per their core skills. This aids in finding candidates with desired technical and domain skills and effectively deploying such resources across projects.
Your current QA process is not transparent, and you are not sure how much ROI you are getting out of it. TCoE efficiently tracks how much a company has invested in testing or the returns it has generated. It introduces metric-based monitoring, which measures the success of the QA process in terms of defect slippage, test coverage, effort, effectiveness, etc.
If you’re looking to reduce your testing time without compromising on quality, then invest in TCoE. You can achieve useful QA with standard tools and frameworks, resulting in a more efficient test cycle. That’s why companies with TCoE show an average reduction in time and costs of up to 30% in the testing cycle.
There is no existing standard QA process. Sharing of practices, tools, and automation opportunities across teams within the company is non-existent. TCoE standardizes testing processes across company levels and sets guidelines for test planning, scripts, and execution. It leads to a shorter learning curve and eliminates confusion arising from variations in testing across projects.
Your current projects struggled with problems like leakage defects and missed deliveries. But with TCoE, companies can achieve up to 50-70% level of automation in testing and limit defect leakage to less than 2%.
Your company is not aware of new trends in testing or emerging technologies, and you do not possess the framework necessary to test them. A TCoE structure enables your QA team to be more business-oriented and in sync with new technologies and trends in testing and gives your company a competitive edge to respond quickly to new business opportunities and alliances.
In Conclusion:
Even if the concept of TCoE doesn’t appeal to you, we urge you to reconsider because companies that have adopted it have reported an average cost reduction of 35% over three years. If your QA is more agile then it will help you establish a continuous improvement process driven by metrics. Setting up a TCoE does require the support and commitment of the top management along with system changes, but you can always choose to partner with a software testing services company like Codoid .
“Are you ready to put your company on the road to positive quality transformation?”
