Software testing is a crucial part of the process when developing a project, however, it is not always as straightforward as you might think. Software testing is run by a small group of QA testers and is often overlooked, but its role in the business is important to insure the quality of the projects being delivered.
In this article, I will discuss a few issues regarding software testing and ways to prevent it. It might not always be easy, but it is a step in the right direction; by acknowledging the problems, we can strive to avoid them.
Improper use of tools and testing methods
In a 2022 survey, there is an interesting (perhaps also worrying) jump in the number of testers that either follow no structured model or follow a model of their own, with close to 20% of respondents (PractiTest 2022).
Not having the proper knowledge of different testing methods and tools can slow testing down. This may lead to testing being rushed or projects not being done in a timely manner, impacting the business and the client. Therefore, by improving the QA’s knowledge of new software methods and tools, they can work faster and more efficiently.
In a survey of 2022, more than 45% of respondents are saying that Test Automation has replaced at least half (or more) of their testing efforts (PractiTest 2022). This shows that businesses are taking the step to better testing tools and improving their knowledge. However, this does not mean that Automation testing is what your business needs to be successful, like many testing practices it has its downfall. Automation testing might be faster and more reliable, but it may increase the financial costs for the company deploying it.
A great way of efficient testing is to make sure the QA team is always up to date with the newest testing methods and tools. This way they can decide what will work best for them as well as the business. An easy way to be kept up to date is to read and do regular research on the subject. Also, doing online classes or communicating with colleagues is a great way to learn a new skill.
Figure 1 (PractiTest 2022)
Misunderstanding the testing requirements
Misunderstanding is something that has happened to everyone at some point in their lives and as most of us can agree this can be frustrating. Putting in all the effort in testing something just to hear later that it must be retested. This can sometimes happen with an entire sprint!
If a tester is new to a project or it just started, understanding the requirements is crucial. The QA team cannot jump in and start testing without knowing the specifications regarding that project.
Misunderstanding something as simple as what screen resolution or browser is testable can cause chaos later. This can lead to retesting which can ultimately impact the structure of the code.
Examples of testing requirements:
- Devices
- Screen resolution
- Software version
- Operating System
- Browser specification
This may look obvious, but having a big group of people working on a project, requirements can easily be miscommunicated especially if you are new to an old project.
Having a detailed document before the testing phase begins is a great way to ensure that everyone is on the same page as to what is required. It is also important that the tester confirms all of this with the relevant project owner before testing begins.
Lack of information regarding what must be tested
Imagine trying to test something with little to no information. Trying to understand what must be tested just by the vague title of a bug. Testing an item with outdated acceptance criteria or wrong information is a big problem software testers face.
Testing an item with wrong information results in inaccurate testing or an item that needs to be retested later. If this is a regular occurrence then it can take up a lot of the testing time. This is not just impacting the testers, but also the developers or project managers that need to make time to answer questions regarding the item that needs clarification.
This can be an easy fix if everyone in the company works together to try and address the problem. Everyone in the company needs to create detailed stories and bugs that are updated regularly. All the items must have an acceptance criteria or repro steps, if not the tester must send it back to the project owner or developer to give more information on the item. The tester cannot assume what must be tested because this can be inaccurate. The ideal solution will be to have all the bugs and stories up to date at any given time, but that will be difficult to achieve.
Not testing from the user’s perspective
The QA team usually focuses on testing bugs and stories. This is great for testing certain parts and scenarios of the projects, but this should not be the only testing technique that should be used. Testing only what the story asks is not a realistic approach, but often the quickest and easiest. It is extremely important to put yourself in the user’s perspective and test beyond the acceptance criteria.
Only focusing on bits of code at a time can blind you from the bigger picture. This can lead to a broken flow, bugs, and code not working properly with one another. Issues like this are often first discovered at the end of production and can have a huge effect on the project.
To be able to fix this problem the testers need to understand the flow of the project as well as how the client wants it to work. The QA team needs to develop the habit of putting themselves in the user’s shoes and testing beyond what is asked of them. This will help them understand the project and what they are testing. It will also help them find bugs in the project that is not necessarily linked to a story but are more part of the project and flow.
End-to-end testing is a great solution to this problem. It allows a tester to test a project the way a user will use it. This gives them a good insight and usually reveals many bugs. Another good testing technique for this is regression testing, this technique covers a lot of ground and is a good run-through of the project.
“Understanding from end-user perspective will make testers report issues that lead to better development of the software making end users use it comfortably” (Balaji Santhanagopalan).
Conclusion
Software testing is a continuous and very challenging process, but with hard work and dedication, it will become easier with time. The first step is to understand the problems listed above and to focus on avoiding them. Nothing is ever flawless, not a project or even a piece of code, but challenging yourself to become better is the ultimate achievement.
“Quality is not an act, it is a habit”
