An essential step to ensure that the software meets the required specifications is to conduct the testing phase correctly. 

Testing is one of the most delicate phases in managing a commission, because the strategies implemented at this point in development vary greatly in terms of timing and methods, something made even more complex by the continuous development of the technologies we use.

Every software house knows it: an incorrect or inadequate testing procedure inevitably leads to an unsatisfied customer, but also to high costs to correct errors.

Types of testing 

There are different types of tests in the software development cycle, each with a specific purpose. The most basic are unit tests, which verify the correct functioning of individual units of code, such as functions or methods. 

Unit tests are generally automated and are the first level of defense against bugs. 

Or, you can conduct integration tests, which check the different components of the system and their overall functioning. 

Another possibility is testing a single function of the software, or regression testing, which is useful when you change the code and fear that new bugs may arise.

Finally, we have the all-important load and stress tests, which evaluate the performance of the software under high load, simulating extreme usage conditions to ensure system stability.

Automation: A Real Possibility in Software Development Testing

At this point it is appropriate to introduce another topic: software testing automation.

Why continue to perform complex, error-prone, and time-consuming manual steps when there are powerful automation tools available?

By now the reliability of these tools is certain, and the results they obtain are reliable. 

Another great advantage of automated texts is the ability to cover more scenarios and variables than manual tests, with also faster feedback on the result.

Test Automation Tools

Let's move on to some operational instructions. The market offers various tools, but the main ones are:

1.Selenium

Selenium is one of the most widely used tools for automating user interface (UI) testing for web applications, creating complex tests that simulate user interactions such as clicking, text input, and page navigation.  

It is open source and supports multiple programming languages ​​like Java, C#, Python, and Ruby, making it highly versatile. 

With its ability to integrate with other solutions, such as Jenkins for continuous integration, Selenium is great for flexibility and power.

2. Jenkins

Jenkins is not really a testing tool, but more of a continuous integration (CI) platform. 

Jenkins lets you automatically run tests whenever your code is updated, integrating with tools like Selenium, JUnit, and more. 

This automated workflow ensures that your code is constantly monitored and tested.

3. TestNG

TestNG is a Java-based testing framework that supports unit testing, functional testing, and integration testing. 

It is designed to cover a broader area than JUnit, and offers features such as parallel testing, advanced test dependency management, and the ability to generate detailed reports. 

Integration with tools like Selenium makes it very popular for Java projects.

How to Conduct Manual Software Testing (And When You Need It)

Manual testing, while more time-consuming than automated testing, is essential to ensuring that an application functions properly. 

In fact, some bugs could escape automated tests and, above all, automated tests are not so intuitive in terms of user experience (UX). 

Additionally, testing in software development always benefits from greater flexibility, to test situations and areas not foreseen in the planning phase, and manual tests respond very well to this.

Furthermore, in the early stages of development, when automation is not yet implementable or the software is rapidly changing, manual testing still allows you to maintain a level of quality control.

Manual Software Testing Strategy Example: A Checklist

1. Defining test objectives

Before starting testing, it is essential to have a clear understanding of the objectives. This helps ensure that testing focuses on the critical areas of the software. 

At this stage, you need to determine which parts of the application need to be manually tested, such as new or changed functionality, high-risk areas, or business-critical components.

Next, it's time to set goals related to ease of use, navigation, and intuitiveness of the interface.

2. Test planning

Careful planning is essential to ensure that all aspects of the software are covered and that testing is performed systematically.

Outline your testing strategy! 

You will need to list the features to be tested, the types of tests to be run (such as functional tests, regression tests, usability tests), and the order in which they will be run.

Then, develop detailed test cases for each feature or module. Each test case should include the following elements:

• Test Case Title: A clear and descriptive name.
• Preconditions: All the requirements that must be met before taking the test.
• Test steps: A detailed sequence of actions the user must perform.
• Expected result: The condition that must be verified if the software is working properly.

Last tip: assign tests to specific team members, taking into account their skills and the needs of the project.

3. Running the tests

This phase consists of practical execution of tests, following the prepared test cases.

The best practice is always to run test cases one at a time, strictly following the steps described, writing everything down. 

In addition to predefined test cases, it is useful to perform exploratory tests, where the tester interacts with the software in an unstructured way. 

Create procedures to reproduce the results you saw in your tests, with written steps and/or screenshots or videos, if appropriate. 

4. Bug Reporting and Management

Once bugs are identified, it is essential to manage them efficiently.

You can use a bug tracking tool (like Jira, Trello, or Clickup). 

Each report should include:

• detailed description: A clear and concise account of the problem.
• Steps for reproduction: A list of actions that lead to the bug, to allow developers to reproduce and fix the problem.
• Gravity and priority: Classify the bug based on its severity (how much it impacts the system) and priority (how urgent it is to fix it).

After a bug has been fixed by developers, rerun the tests to verify that the fix works properly and has not introduced any new problems.

5. Final report and documentation

At the end of the testing phase, it is a good idea to create a report that summarizes the results, including the features tested, bugs found and fixed, and the final outcome of each test case.

Distribute the report to team members and stakeholders to keep everyone informed about the status of the project and to plan any next steps.

Is everything clear?

If you want to delve deeper into the behind the scenes of software development, you might be interested in reading:

• 5 Myths to Debunk in the World of Software Development
• Maintaining Your Software: A Guide to Managing Post-Launch Support and Maintenance

And if you want to work with us on fresh and innovative projects… Contact us!