Software Testing Processes & Best Practices to Follow for Project Success

Requirement Analysis

The requirement analysis is the first stage in the STLC. Here, the testing teams identify all the testable components of a software product. The team also consults with relevant stakeholders, including product owners and analysts, to identify the software’s functional and non-functional requirements.

Functional testing ensures that software meets its functional requirements, which is achieved by performing a combination of unit and integration, system, and user acceptance testing. Non-functional testing verifies the non-functional requirements of software, which usually means the performance and security components.

The testing team may also prepare a requirement traceability matrix (RTM), linking project requirements to test case results.

Test Planning

Test planning is the next stage of the STLC. During this stage, the testing team defines the project’s scope, budget, and resource allocation. These findings are recorded in a comprehensive test plan, which makes it easy to track progress and keep clients in the loop. Automation testing tools are chosen based on project suitability and labor expertise. Members of the software testing team are assigned their appropriate roles based on the project’s technical scope and objectives.

At Orient Software, we understand that every project is unique, which is why we devise each test planning strategy to suit your unique project requirements. That means you will have complete transparency in the software testing process, ensuring you know exactly what each stage will accomplish and how those accomplishments will align with your business objectives.

Test Case Development

The test case development stage is where the comprehensive test plan is converted into executable actions. The testing team designs and prepares the test scripts that the automation software testing tools will follow. Test scripts are essentially a set of inputs that the testing tools will replicate in a testing environment, and the outputs of those inputs will be compared against a benchmark (an expectation of what the desired outcome should be).

Effective test scripts help increase the efficiency and accuracy of software testing, streamlining productivity and minimizing missed defects. They also ensure the widest possible testing coverage while meeting time and budget constraints. Upon completing the test case development stage, the software testing team can prepare the test environment.

Test Environment Setup

This step involves preparing the environment in which the software will be tested. Ideally, the software testing environment should replicate the environment within which the user will interact with the software. To achieve this, the software testing team configures specific hardware, software, and network settings while also preparing the necessary operating systems, databases, and servers.

Before the test execution stage, the team conducts smoke testing – a quick assessment of the test environment to confirm that the build is stable enough for testing.

Test Execution

Test execution usually begins with unit testing, which tests the individual components of a software product before they’re integrated into the system. Integration testing confirms that two or more components of a software product are compatible with each other and do not impact the software’s functionality.

System testing confirms that the entire software product, with all of its components combined, functions as intended. Performance and security testing are also carried out to ensure all non-functional requirements are met. Upon completion, any issues are recorded and passed on to the development team for them to rectify. The severity of each issue is also documented, ensuring only the most serious issues are addressed first.

Test Closure

Once testing is complete, the team prepares a test closure report. This report outlines the steps that the team followed to conduct each test and the results of each test. This enables the team to identify areas where the software testing process can be improved and relay the results to the client, ensuring maximum transparency and clarity. As a result, the team can take the necessary steps to make the software testing process faster, more efficient, and more accurate.

Test Early and Often

Implement testing into the software development life cycle (SDLC) as early as possible. Partner with a software development team that follows the Agile methodology, with an emphasis on continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) to promote regular and rapid feedback. The sooner a software testing team can identify an issue, the faster a developer can address it.

At Orient Software, we incorporate the Agile methodology into our software testing procedures, testing early and often through sprints for early bug detection and faster time to market delivery.

Promote Behaviour-Driven Development (BDD)

One important but overlooked component of software testing is to ensure the software meets the client’s business requirements. BDD is an effective way to bridge the gap between the software’s technical requirements and business objectives.

BDD relies on creating a shared, readable language that both developers, QA, and business stakeholders can interpret, streamlining collaboration between cross-functional teams. This involves utilizing a natural language format called Gherkin, which follows a ‘Given-When-Then’ syntax that describes a specific scenario and the expected outcome.

Use Automated Testing

Automated testing uses pre-written scripts to test for repetitive functions. It is an effective way to not only save time and money but also minimize human error (as is the case for manual testing). Automated testing is particularly valuable for regression testing, which involves repeated testing to verify that a recent code change has not impacted the software’s functionality.

Conduct Exploratory Testing

Exploratory testing is an unstructured approach to testing. Software testers utilize their established skills, knowledge, and experience to test every facet of the software product. The goal behind exploratory testing is to identify potential issues that scripted tests may have missed. Selecting a technology partner that conducts exploratory testing can help improve software quality.

At Orient Software, our combination of structured and unstructured testing procedures helps ensure the widest test coverage, enabling us to identify issues early and often for a better product.