Testing plays a critical role in helping developers improve the overall quality of software products. It helps you locate and fix defects before they make their way into production. Thorough software testing enhances code quality and encourages engineers to adhere to best development practices. The Agile testing life cycle transforms the process into an iterative cycle designed to promote more collaboration between developers, stakeholders, and end-users.
The Agile testing life cycle framework tests software built within an Agile development environment. The Agile lifecycle differs from the traditional waterfall testing method because of its iterative nature. Waterfall breaks development down into isolated phases that connect at different points. However, it doesn’t provide room for a lot of collaboration. Once one phase finishes, the project gets passed on to a different team.
Agile testing differs from waterfall in that all phases involve ongoing communication between developers, stakeholders, and testers. Below is an overview of the Agile testing life cycle.
Effective planning is critical to a well-managed Agile testing life cycle. An Agile team must commit to embracing the core principles of Agile. Below are some guidelines for successfully executing testing in an Agile environment.
Continuous testing depends on establishing a robust CI/CD pipeline. You’ll need it to execute automated builds, testing, and deployments in your Agile environment. In addition, development teams can set up and integrate rapid code changes into a single repository. This allows for ongoing testing of new code and enables more frequent feedback to developers.
CI/CD automation shortens the development cycle, allowing faster software delivery. Support for continuous testing, including unit, integration, and acceptance tests, helps ensure the stability and functionality of software at each stage.
Automation is critical to the Agile testing lifecycle. It allows for quicker and more efficient testing in Agile environments. Testers determine which scenarios are candidates for automation, then put them through the process for faster execution.
Automated testing plays an essential role in supporting Agile methodology. It supports the need for Agile teams to adapt to and account for new changes by:
Choosing the right test automation tool for supporting Agile testing starts with a complete understanding of the requirements. If your company already has automation software, compare the performance of each to the needs of your project. Pick the one that aligns most closely with your needs. For example, if you’re building a web application, you need a testing tool capable of measuring its performance in different web browsers.
You also need to consider critical criteria like:
Test-driven development (TDD) is a practice focused on setting up unit test cases before development starts. It combines programming, unit test construction, and refactoring. TDD offers multiple benefits, including:
Combining automation, CI/CD, and expanded coverage leads to improved communication between team members. It helps eliminate the silos that can occur in traditional testing. Testers and developers talk to each other at every phase, reducing miscommunications that can slow testing and put the project at risk.
Agile is designed to accommodate the need to make changes based on evolving conditions. It’s ideal for situations where the project scope might change or there are multiple product owners with evolving requirements. Because teams can collaborate at every stage, tests can adapt to fit the need to modify different software modules or expand the scope of the product’s functionality.
While it’s good to plan, make sure your test plans leave room for potential changes. That way, you don’t get thrown off-track if there is a change in scope or a need to revamp certain portions of the software design. Be open to new ways of conducting testing, including adding new automated tests to ensure the delivery of a bug-free product.
Below are some techniques testers often employ when they need to change their test plans.
Test metrics provide you with insights into the quality of your software. You can gauge the effectiveness of your testing methods and find areas for improvement. Reviewing metrics also helps teams locate project risks. For example, you can look at defect trends and determine how to adjust your Agile testing efforts. Monitoring defects also lets you see how effectively the team has resolved issues.
Ranorex understands the importance of testing when it comes to delivering quality products to customers. Our suite of automated testing tools provides you with everything needed to establish a robust and effective testing process. Click here to request a demo of our platform.
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