Being able to deliver your app or other software products to the public efficiently and effectively often comes down to having a solid testing methodology in place.
Here is everything you need to know about the most common software testing methodologies, how they could benefit your project, and how automation can streamline the methodology even further.
What Are Software Testing Methodologies?
Software testing methodologies are the strategies used to test applications to make sure they behave as expected. There are multiple types of testing methodologies, all of which have established objectives, strategies, and tracked results and deliverables.
In the context of software testing, these methodologies are designed to help testers and developers uncover potential problems and debug various parts of the software, both prior to launch and after entering the CI/CD phases.
How to Choose the Right Test Methodology for Your Project
No two projects are exactly alike, whether in software development or in other industries. In turn, there is no singular solution for every software testing project out there. As a project manager, you may find yourself using one methodology as the base for your approach while borrowing elements from others depending on the needs of your team, stakeholders, and the project itself.
Some of the determining factors for the QA and test methodology you choose may include:
- Your organization’s goals and values
- Project complexity
- Project costs
- Risks and constraints
- Your team’s access to resources
QA Testing Methodologies to Consider
In the context of QA testing methodologies, there are four main options we recommend that keep the process running smoothly, for both the testing team and the project team as a whole.
Each methodology has its advantages and disadvantages, so it’s valuable to know which options may be best for the specific circumstances.
Agile Methodology
In the Agile software testing methodology, the tests are broken into segments called sprints. Traditionally, sprints are given a set amount of time for completion and follow an iterative process in which the development and testing teams take on requests and accept feedback.
This allows the development team to focus on what they can accomplish solely within the length of the sprint provided. At the end of the sprint, there is a review wherein the team covers what happened during the previous sprint and what they can do during the next one.
One of the key advantages of the Agile methodology is that it has more flexibility to accommodate changes to the project’s requirements. Since QA and product testing in Agile is incremental, it also minimizes risks throughout the process. However, because there is a higher amount of stakeholder interaction, Agile also puts added time pressure on everyone involved, including the developers, the testers, and the client.
The Waterfall Model
In the Waterfall QA methodology, different testing levels are performed one after the next, with subsequent testing levels not beginning until certain criteria from a previous level have been met.
One of the benefits of the Waterfall model is that it uses a clear structure for the direction of the test and begins with the end goal in mind while transferring information well from one phase to the next.
However, because it begins with a clear end goal in mind, one of the biggest drawbacks of Waterfall is that it makes any inevitable changes in the testing or development process harder to handle. It also has a tendency to delay testing until the latter half of the project, making an already long process take even longer to complete.
Iterative Development
Iterative development methodology divides large projects into smaller, more digestible phases. In software and QA testing, it effectively means that the testing and development teams will go through their own iteration of the waterfall model on a smaller scale every time a new module or part of the software is created.
Every time a new iteration is completed, tests and QA are run for the entire system with the new iteration in place.
One of the advantages of the iterative methodology is that test results and feedback are immediately available at the end of each iteration, making it easier to resolve bugs throughout the process, rather than waiting for them to compound into major issues near the end of the project.
On the other hand, iterative development also increases the amount of communication and feedback at the end of each iteration, which can potentially slow down the project multiple times.
DevOps Methodology
Otherwise known as continuous testing, the DevOps methodology brings the development and operations teams together to meet the need for shorter, more frequent deliveries. The DevOps methodology follows several of the same principles as Agile, prioritizing interaction and collaboration over set processes to make the testing and QA processes more cross-functional.
One of the advantages of the DevOps methodology is that it allows the testing team to resolve issues faster, and deliver the project sooner, no matter the scale.
However, due to the lack of standardization in place, the DevOps methodology tends to lack meaningful performance metrics on its own. It can also be more expensive and complex to implement than other software testing methodologies.
Automation Testing with Ranorex
No matter which software testing methodology works best for your organization, automated testing can save your testing and development team time while minimizing the risk of costly mistakes. Ranorex has a suite of automated software testing tools for every phase of your project, from development to final QA.
By automating the software testing process, your team is able to identify more potential issues in a fraction of the time, keeping your project under budget and saving hours of time your team would otherwise spend combing through your software to run tests manually.
Ranorex Software Features
Ranorex Studio has multiple features that make your testing process easier, regardless of the software testing methodologies your team uses. Some of the top features that streamline your testing process include:
- Reliable object identification: With Ranorex Studio and its built-in tools, your team can analyze and maintain elements within your system and use them in future tests.
- Data-driven testing framework: The software allows you to build automated test cases and connect them to a data source, so you can run the same tests in future applications without having to build the tests from scratch.
- Action editor and recorder: Ranorex Studio’s action recorder allows you to create test automation projects without additional coding.
- Code editor: Ranorex Studio’s code editor allows developers and testers to create flexible automation scripts using standard programming languages, uncovering bugs and potential problems regardless of your team’s level of experience.
- Web and mobile test command center: With the mobile and web test command center within Ranorex Studio, you can conduct tests from the environment they’re meant to run in.
- Remote testing: Ranorex Studio has the capacity to operate remote desktop tests in multiple locations.
Start a Free Trial
Automation can make your testing and development teams’ jobs easier, freeing them to work on additional projects that make the team more profitable. Start your free trial of Ranorex Studio and see how your team can work smarter and faster today.