Whether you in-source or outsource, software testing is crucial. Following the Software Testing Life Cycle or STLC can help keep your development products on track and on point. Here’s a phase-by-phase guide to what STLC can mean for your operations.
Who should carry out your software testing?
You have two choices for software testing: in-sourcing or outsourcing to a trusted software testing company.
Outsourcing
It is imperative that software testing is objective concerning software quality and risks, so outsourcing is an excellent option for a fresh set of eyes.
Additionally, outsourcing to a company with all of the necessary testing environments can reduce the overhead of purchasing it yourself. Depending on the time zone of the testing agency you choose, you may also enjoy a slight time bump to grease the gears.
You will have to consider that the transition to outsourcing can be a long process. Finding the right company alone can be difficult. If outsourcing sounds like the route for you, you can look to reputable agencies like XBOSoft for more information.
In-sourcing
With this option, you will have more control by creating a software testing team within your company. Your team answers only to you and is more accessible. You can immediately address any issues and maintain complete independence in your development process.
However, it is more expensive. You are responsible for hiring and continuously training the team, which can be a severe drain on your resources depending on your project’s length and cash flow.
Whether you take the DIY approach or outsource to a firm, software testing is necessary.
About software testing
Even if you think your team covers all its bases, surprises can arise. For example, one common issue with technology is discrepancies between web browsers, which you won’t know about until you’ve thoroughly tested your software.
Following these six software testing life cycle phases will provide security in your testing process.
Requirement analysis
Examine the requirements and determine which aspects are testable. This way, you know which types of tests your team should run and decide where and when each trial takes place. Also, consider whether you can automate the tests for greater efficiency.
Planning
Decide what to do. Plan for the activities and resources required, gather and track metrics, and determine the jobs of specific individuals or teams. Consider which test strategy is best, and then analyze the risks and make a plan for dealing with them. You should also estimate the timeline of your development and testing together.
Test case development
Create test cases that lay out the inputs, procedures, and test conditions. Define the expected results and make a detailed plan for test conditions to ensure complete coverage.
Test environment set-up
Decide how to test. Describe the test conditions and break them into small segments. Attain the data, set up the environment, and test it to ensure it functions properly.
Execution
Run your tests and jot down any issues. Use the predetermined metrics to track your progress. Then, compare your test results to the expected results.
Conclusion
Finally, write a report. Note the technical details and the risks that have decreased throughout the testing. Mention the initial objectives, defects you discovered, overall quality of the software, total time taken, and what the test covered.
Before you go
While testing software may seem like an unnecessary cost for your company, finding and fixing faults early is crucial. Bugs are expensive to fix, especially when discovered late in the process. Additionally, providing products with bugs that have gone unnoticed will taint customer opinions. In the world of product development, an ounce of prevention is well worth a pound of cure.