Discussion on Use Testing to Develop Better Software Faster by Marit van Dijkl | Testμ 2023

Uncover the hidden power of testing in software development! :rocket:

Join this talk by Marit van Dijkl to debunk the myths around testing, from developer struggles to its pivotal role in CI/CD and cloud transitions.

Discover how testing isn’t just about bug-catching and enhancing design, architecture, and solutions.

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If you have already registered and up for the session, feel free to post your questions in the thread below :point_down:

Here are some of the Q&As from the session!

How do you recommend maintaining strong focus on software security during rapid development cycle? What role does security testing play in this scenario?

Marit : There are lots of tools that can help you in security testing or in keeping your application secure. One is to make sure that you keep your dependencies up to date and that you don’t lag with older versions that might have known vulnerabilities.

How can performance testing be interwoven with development to proactively address performance issues and prevent delays?

Marit: Performance testing can be integrated with development to proactively address performance issues and prevent delays. Tools like JMeter and Gatling can be used for Java applications. These tools can be integrated into your build process to check the performance of your application. However, it’s important to note that the performance on actual production hardware may differ. Depending on the nature of your application, full-on performance tests may be required on production hardware to ensure everything performs as needed.

Here are some of the unanswered questions:

How do you manage software testing in a fast-paced environment?

What challenges or pitfalls should teams be aware of when striving to develop better software faster through testing?

Can you share more scenarios on testing with micro services level and how really testing pyramid ensures our assumption on level of testing required

What is the right time to introduce automation testing for a software that is being developed in agile environment?

Do you think test results should be disclosed to customers so they can follow along the progression of their product ?

Is there any reason why TDD approach would not be used for a specific case or not making it a standard?

What techniques can be employed to adopt a mindset of early testing for the purpose of improving software development?

Should all the scenarios that have been considered be included in the acceptance criteria?

How do testing metrics and analytics contribute to the identification of bottlenecks and areas for improvement, leading to faster software development iterations?

Can you share examples of successful cases where early testing prevented costly issues in later stages of development?

Hi there,

If you couldn’t catch the session live, don’t worry! You can watch the recording here:

Additionally, we’ve got you covered with a detailed session blog:

In a fast-paced software development environment, efficient management of testing is crucial to maintain product quality and meet tight deadlines. By focusing testing efforts on high-priority features and critical areas, you can ensure that the most important aspects are thoroughly tested, while less critical components receive adequate coverage. Test automation is also indispensable in this context, as it accelerates test execution and enables rapid feedback.

Parallel testing is another essential strategy. Running multiple tests simultaneously can significantly speed up the testing process, especially for regression testing. Additionally, effective communication and collaboration between development and testing teams are vital. Quick issue resolution and alignment on testing priorities can help prevent delays and keep the testing process aligned with the pace of development.

Lastly, adopting agile methodologies, such as Scrum or Kanban, can help streamline testing in fast-paced environments. These methodologies promote iterative development and frequent testing, ensuring that testing remains an integral part of the development process. By combining these strategies, you can efficiently manage software testing and deliver high-quality software in rapid development cycles.

Hope this answers your question!

In my opinion, disclosing test results to customers can be a valuable practice in software development. It fosters transparency, which is a key element of trust-building. When customers are kept informed about the progress and quality of their product, it demonstrates a commitment to delivering a reliable solution. This transparency can lead to stronger customer confidence, satisfaction, and ultimately, better long-term relationships.

Furthermore, sharing test results provides an opportunity for customers to provide feedback and make informed decisions. They can contribute insights, request adjustments, or understand any potential limitations in the software, which can be beneficial in refining the product to better meet their needs. Overall, sharing test results with customers not only builds trust but also promotes collaboration and customer satisfaction.

In my opinion, acceptance criteria should capture the essential conditions that must be met for a user story or feature to be considered complete and accepted by the stakeholders. While it’s important to have comprehensive acceptance criteria, not every possible scenario needs to be included.

It should also focus on the most critical and relevant scenarios that are necessary to ensure the functionality meets the user’s needs and the overall quality standards. Here are some considerations:

  1. Common Use Cases: Address common and typical use cases that represent the majority of user interactions. This helps ensure the software’s core functionality is working correctly.
  2. Negative Testing: Consider scenarios that test what should not happen or the absence of certain behaviors. This helps uncover potential security or usability issues.
  3. Performance and Scalability: If performance and scalability are critical, include acceptance criteria related to these aspects. Ensure the software performs adequately under expected loads.
  4. Usability and Accessibility: If user experience and accessibility are important, include criteria related to these aspects to ensure the software is user-friendly and accessible to all users.
  5. Regulatory and Compliance Requirements: If the software must adhere to specific regulations or compliance standards, include criteria that verify compliance with these requirements.

The goal is to provide clear guidance for development and testing teams and ensure that the software meets the user’s needs and quality standards. In some cases, additional scenarios may be discovered during development or testing and can be added to the criteria as needed.

As per my understanding, introducing automation testing in an agile environment should be an early consideration.

Ideally, automation efforts should commence as soon as the software’s core functionalities stabilize and become testable. This allows for the creation of a strong foundation for automated test cases, which can then be iteratively built upon as new features are added throughout the agile development cycle.

Automation should be an integral part of the agile process, providing quick feedback and ensuring that regression testing and critical functional tests are consistently executed. This early introduction of automation promotes faster releases, enhanced quality, and improved efficiency in an agile development environment.

I hope this answers your question.

In the context of microservices testing, there are various scenarios to consider, each focusing on different aspects of the system. These scenarios can be effectively categorized using the testing pyramid, which is a framework for structuring and prioritizing tests.

Here are some scenarios and how the testing pyramid ensures a balanced approach:

  1. Unit Testing (Base of the Pyramid): At the base of the pyramid, unit testing focuses on testing individual microservices or components in isolation. This is critical for ensuring that each microservice functions correctly. Unit tests help catch low-level bugs early and provide a solid foundation for higher-level testing.
  2. Integration Testing: Moving up the pyramid, integration testing verifies that microservices interact seamlessly with one another. This scenario ensures that data and communication between services are working as expected. Testing integration points, API contracts, and data flows helps detect issues at the boundaries between microservices.
  3. Service Component Testing: In this scenario, you examine the behavior of a group of related microservices that collaborate to deliver a specific function or feature. Testing the components of service ensembles helps ensure that business logic and dependencies function correctly together.
  4. End-to-End Testing (Top of the Pyramid): At the top of the pyramid, end-to-end testing validates the entire system’s functionality. It simulates user interactions and scenarios that span multiple microservices. This scenario helps ensure that the system as a whole behaves as intended and meets user requirements.

The testing pyramid illustrates that the majority of your tests should be at the lower levels (unit and integration testing), which are more granular and focused.

This approach ensures that defects are caught early in the development process when they are less expensive to fix. As you move up the pyramid, the tests become broader in scope, with fewer tests at the higher levels (service component and end-to-end testing) to cover user scenarios comprehensively.

By adhering to the testing pyramid, you achieve a balanced approach that maximizes test coverage while efficiently allocating resources and time. This strategy helps ensure that your microservices are thoroughly tested, and that you can be confident in the reliability and functionality of your system as a whole.

I hope this answers your question. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have.

As per my understanding, while Test-Driven Development (TDD) is a valuable approach in many cases, there are situations where it may not be the best fit.

One reason to consider is the nature of the project or the technology being used. In cases where the project’s requirements are highly ambiguous, evolving rapidly, or where the technology is new and uncertain, it may be challenging to apply TDD effectively. TDD relies on clear, well-defined specifications, and in these situations, it might be more practical to use other development and testing methods that allow for greater flexibility and adaptability.

Additionally, TDD can be less suitable for projects with strict regulatory or compliance requirements, where rigorous documentation and traceability are essential. The iterative nature of TDD can sometimes lead to challenges in meeting these documentation requirements. In such cases, a more traditional development approach with comprehensive, post-development testing and documentation processes might be preferred.

Ultimately, while TDD is a powerful practice, its applicability can vary based on project characteristics, and it may not always be suitable as a standard practice. It’s essential to assess the specific needs of the project and consider whether TDD aligns with those needs or if alternative approaches may be more effective.

I hope this answers your question.