Top 10 Tips To Rule The World of Software Testing & Quality Assurance

A bug is a developer’s worst nightmare. It is typically very small but causes a giant ripple effect. 

According to research conducted by the Systems Sciences Institute at IBM, the cost of correcting a bug identified in the testing phase is six times as much as the one found during the coding phase.  

Software testing and quality assurance are extremely important components of any software development project. An ideal code is one that performs the required tasks while also offering a good user experience. Even a slight negligence in the program can impact the integrity of the software and result in user dissatisfaction. Thus causing a loss of valuable leads for the business. Therefore, comprehensive software testing, both manual and automated,  is done to ensure the proper working of the code. 

Tips For Software Testing & Quality Assurance

Irrespective of how careful you are with the code, bugs are inevitable. However, what we can do about them is – find ways of dealing with them and figuring out effective ways of bug identification. This includes using tips and tricks for performing quality assurance tests. Here are some Software testing tips that have the potential to alter the course of code testing for QA engineers. 

Tip # 1: Get A Clear Understanding Of The Project Requirements  

Starting from the top – first, the QA engineer should be completely aware of the project. 

Be sure to get a clear idea about the software requirements and project outcomes. You might end up testing the wrong features and sometimes even miss critical bugs if you fail to get a proper understanding of the project requirements. Before starting the testing process, make sure to collaborate with the stakeholders, collect necessary information, and clarify any uncertainties about the project. 

Research Statistics: A study from NIST claims that 70-85% of software development errors are found in the requirement and design phases.  

Also read: 10 Best Ways To Increase User Engagement For Your Mobile App 

Tip # 2: Develop A Good Test Plan – It Will Do Wonders!  

Planning before acting is a great way of minimizing the time required to perform the task. 

A well-structured test plan serves as the backbone of effective software testing. By definition, a good test plan includes the project scope, end goals, resources, deliverables, and schedule of the testing process. Make a document outlining all the project essentials before starting the testing. It will not only guide your testing efforts but also help maintain your progress log.  

Tip # 3:  Automate As Much As You Can  

Recent studies poll in favor of testing automation. According to one study, 64% of organizations have integrated the practices of automated software quality assurance in the past few years. 

The rise in the trend of testing automation can be credited to its enhanced efficiency and high level of accuracy. Automated tools minimize the time required for the testing process and provide quick feedback. They are also effective in catching the bugs early in the development phase, thus lowering the debugging costs. 

Tip # 4: Go For Risk-Based Testing First

Different features of a code are at different levels of risk. 

Bugs in some parts of the code could be more costly than others. It is therefore wise to test the high-risk parts of the application first. This target-testing approach will help you utilize the resources effectively while eliminating the major threats to the code first.   

Tip # 5: Adopt Continuous Integration and Continuous Testing

It is important to perform continuous software testing to avoid bugs in the later stages. Continuous integration and testing methods are effective for this purpose. 

In this method, every code is integrated into the central repository. Tests are run once an integration takes place. This approach helps in detecting and solving a problem at an early stage. According to a research report by Puppet, by integrating continuous integration and testing, high-performing teams deploy code changes 208 times more frequently than low performers.  

Tip # 6: Perform Regular Regression Testing 

Every time a new update or feature is added, the software evolves which may introduce new bugs in the code. Regular regression testing is needed to overcome this issue. It makes sure that all the existing functionality works as per expectations even after the changes are introduced in the software. Regular regression testing is highly important for maintaining the quality of software for the long term.

Also, experiment with exploratory testing. It can pick up unexpected issues. This helps catch many bugs that automated or scripted tests may not catch.

Research Statistics: According to a study by Tricentis, 38 percent of all software bugs are found in regression testing.  

Tip # 7: Use the Feedback from Users

User experience and feedback are very important to assure product quality. It plays an instrumental role in giving insight into the real-world usages of the software and helps spot the problems that might skip the Testing net. Closely monitor the users’ response. Collect testing metrics to get insights into the application performance. Some important metrics to be collected and analyzed include test coverage, defect density, test execution rate, mean time to detect, and issues resolved. These metrics give you an idea of the areas that need improvement and help you make data-driven decisions. Also, encourage your users to provide feedback and use this information to make improvements. 

Research Statistics: A study by Pendo showed that software developers who actively collect and integrate user feedback into their applications reduce bugs by 25%.  

Tip # 8: Test Under Real Environments and Devices 

Testing with emulation and simulation is a pretty well-used technique in software development operations. However, it’s a fact that running an application under real-world conditions on a physical device cannot be replicated by simulators. It is important to invest in different devices to ensure that the software is running well across different gadgets and that the user experience is maintained.  

Tip # 9: Focus On Security And Performance Testing

Performance testing is important to ensure the speed, scalability, and stability of the application under different conditions. Dimensional Research statistics show that 81% of users will not use an app if it crashes, and 53% will avoid using slow apps.

Security is another major aspect of software quality assurance tests following the alarming threat of cyber attacks in recent times. Many organizations tend to get the services of a reputable outsourced software testing company or hire experts to eliminate security threats in their projects.  

Tip # 14: Keep Up With The Changing QA Trends  

The field of software quality assurance is changing at a very fast pace. New tools and trends are introduced in the market. It is important to stay updated with the new methodologies and industry best practices to be among the Expert software quality assurance engineers. Attend webinars, read blogs on the industry, engage with expert QA engineers, and join professional networks to know the current happenings in the field. Keep on learning to keep on evolving.  

Concluding Note!

QA testing is the key to executing successful software development operations. It is the primary element that will keep your customers happy and help maintain a good market reputation. A team of expert software quality assurance engineers is therefore instrumental to any software company. Remember that, Quality is a journey, not a destination. Follow these software testing tips, stay committed to excellence, and your software will show just that.