Better Testing Produces Better Applications - True or False?

Better quality testing procedures always improve the quality of the applications – there is no doubt about this. Besides, they also offer a string of added advantages to the developers. They provide a wide range of coverage that is critical for detecting the bugs or loopholes pretty early along the course of the development. A thorough evaluation procedure also drastically reduces the cost of failure, saves time through a process of repeatability as well as quick or early verification. It also results in much better or improved resource productivity. Hence, it can well be said that at the end of the day, better assessment procedures do improve the quality of the applications.

In fact, implementing the best software testing procedure for any app development is the best as well as the most promising way to not only improve the quality of the apps but to enjoy their benefits to the fullest.

The applications that are under development have a tendency of changing constantly and becoming more and more complex with the passage of time, during the course of development. Their features also keep on growing, thus increasing the need as well as the pertinence of the evaluation.

Still, in case of a number of application things do not take place in this way. In the case of these apps, all the features need to be tested upon implementation of even a single extra feature. This is required to ensure optimal behavior of the application in question along with a seamless experience of the end user, for at times it is seen that incorporation of even a single extra feature has changed the functionality of the entire software or application. Here is where, the need for the best checking procedure, preferably an automated testing procedure, is so important for the overall betterment of the application in question.

There are a number of smaller or startup companies that cannot be considered as typical software houses. Still, they develop various types of software applications to fulfill their domestic requirements. These companies spend a sizeable amount of time for testing various features of the software application they develop, simply by running them and figuring out their functionality with different types of inputs, while keeping a close watch on the outputs they deliver, judging whether the outputs yielded are as per the predefined design. Though these companies leave no stones unturned in the evaluation, still there remains enough room for speculation, so far as the feasibility of the tests conducted are concerned, or the real time working of the codes. This is due to fact that these companies often do not follow any testing manual and conduct the testing on an ad hoc basis, which at times leave enough room for the presence of loopholes.

Thus, using a proper testing manual and time is extremely effective, though it is not that expensive at all, for ensuring the quality of the application. Rigorous and high quality testing is always great when it comes to finding out whether a newly created code is affecting any aspect of the functionality of the software. Moreover, a comprehensive and structured evaluation infrastructure is always better that ad hoc software testing that is practiced by the smaller and the startup companies. While ad hoc testing is generally done manually where there is room for the tester committing mistakes, the bigger names with a structured testing infrastructure generally follow automated evaluation mechanism, where each and every flaw is spotted and rectified accordingly. These high quality assessment setups are naturally more effective and elaborative than the manual testing, though at times their scripting system might be expensive. Still, they are indispensable when it comes to betterment of a software or app. This is mainly for three reasons.

Firstly, these automated testing procedures are excellent in finding problems pretty early in the development cycle. It is a common perception in SW development that the earlier the bugs are spotted, the cheaper it is to debug them. Thus, the best automated testing procedures suit this perception as they pick up the loopholes and plug them at the earliest and in an extremely effective and quick way.

Secondly, the best automated testing systems keep a close vigil on the code from two dimensions – time and space. They keep a watch on the code in the dimension of time for once a unit test is written, it ensures that the code that is written will work at present as well as in the future.

Thirdly, these high quality evaluation systems ensure that the developers get the freedom of going all out to alter the existing code. Over the course of time, the software systems get increasingly change resistant, as the developers get a bit reluctant to change the old or established code. However, this tendency can always be justified by the fact that any change in the old code can result in disintegration or split up of some other part of the application or software as a side effect.

Thus, the presence of a better evaluation procedure always improves the quality of the application from all possible aspects. To get maximum benefits of testing, you may consider hiring services of a independent software Testing company.

We provide software application testing services. If you would like to hire software test engineer from us, we would be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solutions.

What kinds of Software Testing should be considered?

The procedure of completion of the testing stages from the point the product idea is conceived to the time the software is launched to the users, goes through a plethora of phases. Some organizations hire specialized teams excelling in each testing phase while others have a single testing team catering to all the phases. The different stages usually follow a particular order; however, some phases may concurrently run once the risk is adequately analyzed, thereby saving on the time to market. Whatever the case may be, software testing almost always involves a verification and validation procedure.

The process of verification ensures that the product meets the conditions set at the beginning of the development phase while validation guarantees that the product caters to the particular requirements towards the end of the development stage. Here we bring to you different kinds of software testing that can be considered. But before that, let’s have a peek into the basics.

Software Testing Basics

The basics of software testing boil down to Black box testing and White box Testing. Black box testing is the technique that overlooks the system’s internal mechanism and concentrates on the output obtained against any kind of system execution or input. Also called functional testing, Black box testing is mostly utilized for validation. White box testing, also known as glass box testing or structural testing, is the technique that takes into consideration the system’s internal mechanism. It is frequently used for verification.

Kinds of Testing to be considered

1. Unit Testing: A component of white box testing, unit testing pertains to an individual unit or a set of related units. It helps the programmer to test whether the implemented unit is generating the desired output against a given input.
2. System Testing: It is a kind of testing that guarantees the usability of the software in diverse environments. Done within comprehensive environments and complete system implementation, system testing falls under the category of black box testing.
3. Functional Testing: This ensures that the particular functionality needed within the system is in a workable condition. It is considered within black box testing.
4. Stress Testing: Used for the evaluation of system behavior with respect to unfavorable conditions, stress testing is carried out beyond the specification limits. It is a component of black box testing.
5. Integration Testing: In this kind of testing, a set of components join together to produce an output. Moreover, the interaction between hardware and software is also tested in this case if any relation exists between the hardware and software components. Integration testing may be a part of both black box testing as well as white box testing.
6. Acceptance Testing: This is performed by the client to make sure that the final product that has been delivered is in line with the requirements and works as per client expectations. Acceptance testing is a part of black box testing.
7. Software Performance Testing: This refers to the testing done to evaluate the effectiveness and speed of the system and to ensure that the results are generated within the stipulated time as per the performance requirements. Performance testing is considered under black box testing.
8. Usability Testing: This is used in order to estimate the user-friendliness of the GUI and to judge the convenience with which the client can learn. A component of black box testing, usability testing also judges the performance proficiency of the client.
9. Regression Testing: This testing follows once a component, system or set of related units are modified, to ensure that the performed modification is done correctly and is not influencing other modules to come up with abrupt results. It is a kind of black box testing.
10. Beta Testing: This testing is carried out by end users, a team external to development, or publicly, launching complete pre-version of the product called beta version. Categorized under black box testing, beta testing aims to cover unforeseen errors.

Carrying out the right testing for your software makes room for understanding whether the application or product is capable of meeting the expectations.

We provide qa and software testing services. If you would like to talk to one of our expert software testers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.