You have a project at the development stage and you decide to test it. You check the internet and see that tons of information about software testing practices based on various strategies are available. After hours of research, only one thought crosses your mind: “I don’t know which strategy to choose…”
It is a common situation when it comes to software quality control. The best way, in this case, is to address professionals and hire a reputable QA company like UTOR that will help you. However, if you decide to cope with this task on your own, just remember: the perfect test strategy for your project is the one that works and does this job effectively.
To figure out which one among myriads of test approaches and their combinations will work in your case, let’s start with the basics and then go deeper into the topic.
What Is a Software Testing Strategy?
In general, a software testing strategy is the set of steps that need to be done to assure the highest possible quality of an end-product. It is a plan of action that an in-house QA department or an outsourced QA team follows to provide the level of quality set by you. If you choose a strategy that your project does not require to be perfect, you waste time and resources for nothing.
The software for a small coffee house, for example, does not require such security testing as the software of a bank standing next to it. Or, for instance, if you create a highly specialized mobile application for electronic lock management of one facility that will not be used by millions of users, you do not need performance testing. So, to avoid wasting time and money, you need to be well aware of what strategy to choose and why you do it.
If you want to get more information about the concept of software testing strategy, you can check our related article about test strategies and plans.
The Software Testing Strategies
Optimization of the approach to testing in software engineering is the best way to make it effective. A software testing strategy defines what, when, and how to do whatever is necessary to make an end product of high quality. Usually, the following software testing strategies and their combinations are used to achieve this major objective:
Static Testing
The early-stage testing strategy is static testing: this technique identifies potential issues upfront, before running the developing product. Basically, such desk-checking is required to detect bugs and issues that are present in the code itself. Such a check-up is important at the pre-deployment stage as it helps avoid problems caused by errors in the code and software structure deficits.
Structural Testing
It is not possible to effectively test software without running it. Structural testing, also known as white-box testing, is required to detect and fix bugs and errors emerging during the pre-production stage of the software development process. At this stage, unit testing based on the software structure is performed using regression testing. In most cases, it is an automated process working within the test automation framework to speed up the development process at this stage. Developers and QA engineers have full access to the software’s structure and data flows (data flows testing), so they can track any changes (mutation testing) in the system’s behavior by comparing the tests’ outcomes with the results of previous iterations (control flow testing).
Behavioral Testing
The final stage of testing focuses on the software’s reactions to various activities rather than on the mechanisms behind these reactions. In other words, behavioral testing, also known as black-box testing, presupposes running numerous tests, mostly manual, to see the product from the user’s point of view. QA engineers usually have some specific information about a business or other purposes of the software (‘the black box’) to run usability tests, for example, and react to bugs as regular users of the product will do. Behavioral testing also may include automation (regression tests) to eliminate human error if repetitive activities are required. For example, you may need to fill out 100 registration forms on the website to see how the product copes with such an activity, so the automation of this test is preferable.
Key Principles of the Right Testing Strategy
The best test strategy is usually the one that works for the specific project perfectly well. However, the key principles of developing an effective strategy are:
Test early, test often
- Preventing a problem is always better than fixing it. You should choose the strategy that will allow you to test your product from the earliest stages of development and do it as often as required.
Work with the team, not against it
- Collaboration is the key to success. The best possible approach to QA is to let a QA team work with the development team and fix issues before they become real problems. DevOps is the solution you need, keep it in mind when choosing the testing strategy.
Be in users’ shoes
- Always focus on the end-users of your product. You develop software for them, so user experience is your top priority.
Following these principles is a must if your goal is to ensure the highest quality of your end product. If you fail, it may have very negative consequences as has happened with Starbucks, for example. So, if you need guidance on how to develop the strategy your project will only benefit from, contact us, we’ll be glad to assist you.
Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Software Testing Strategy
The wrong choice of software testing strategy may put your project at risk of failure. You may miss something, you may omit something, intentionally or not, and finally, you may not even be aware of the tests your project requires to be of high quality. Check the factors that will influence your choice:
Risks to the project
Just think of the situation when one or a few tests disrupt the functionality of your software. There is nothing critical in such a situation when the product is in the early development stage and hasn’t been deployed yet. But what if your software, a website, or an application already has active users? They may not tolerate the situation when your product crashes or functions in the wrong way, so you may lose your end-users. Will it affect your business?
Objectives of the project
Tests should not be the primary objective of the successfully chosen software testing strategy. They are required to make your product better, help you seamlessly integrate all improvements, and fix bugs that affect user experience and software functionality. Keep it in mind while choosing the right testing strategy.
Regulations to consider
You should never forget that end-users are your top priority while developing a software, website, or application. In some cases, if it is a mobile application, for example, your users will live in different geographical locations, so your product must comply with the rules and regulations effective in the customer’s country. In other cases, your product must follow the accessibility requirements (such as WCAG 2.1 for the US and EN 301 549 adopted in the EU), for example, if you develop the product for a government facility. Just consider the volume of tests that you even didn’t think of and weren’t even aware of and realize how many details you still should learn about the testing process.
If you find it difficult to decide whether the factors mentioned relate to your project or not, it is better to outsource the development of an effective solution to a QA company. You also can check the article explaining how to hire a QA wisely.
The Software Testing Strategy You Need
The choice of the right testing strategy is not an easy task. You can do it on your own, ask the internet for advice, or get a comprehensive and effective solution from a professional QA team. Just remember that your choice may significantly influence the future of your product and even the reputation of your business.
In UTOR, we use above mentioned key principles every day, so we know how to develop a unique strategy for every product we work on. We thoroughly analyze each project before offering a comprehensive solution. The company develops the best strategy for your project based on your requirements and specifications. So, if you need the best service and outstanding quality of your product, contact us, we are ready to help.
