Shift-left testing has become the latest buzz in the town. It means executing QA services at the development stage. Shift left testing describes the increase in the involvement development stage by QA engineers for detecting more defects at the earliest, before the software engineers hand the program to QA for the conduction of extensive testing. It refers to the execution and development of automated testing of API and UI.
However, there are a few essential and basic steps for software testing which should be performed by every software developer, regardless of whether it is formal testing, shift -left testing, code integration and merging ad hoc testing. The ultimate objective of these steps is the detection of bugs and errors, which may appear all of a sudden. If these bugs are not detected at the earlier stage, it may lead to a burn in your pocket at a later off stage. Here is a list of few of the steps of software testing as mentioned in https://codoid.com/, which should be performed by every software testing engineer:
Basic functionality testing
You need to ensure that each button on the screen functions properly. You should also make sure that it is possible to enter text in every field easily without crashing the software. You do not need to carry the hassle of various combinations of edge conditions, characters and click, as every tester is capable of doing it perfectly. You need to ensure that no one else is touching your work if there are chances that the work may crash down in no time as they make an entry of their name in the field of the user name.
If the features can be accessed with the aid of API, it is possible to run the tests, thereby ensuring that the basic API functionality functions before the submission for an added intensive testing. If you find any aspect which is not working, you need to tell them about it. Let them know that you are aware of it and that you will be fixing it later.
Code review
Reviewing the code is a prerequisite to uncovering a series of issues. In case your coding method needs any sort of peer review, you should make sure to perform the specific step before handing the same to conduct testing. You need to do basic functionality testing before the reviewing of the code, to avoid any hassles at a later off stage.
Static code analysis
There are wide array of tools which are capable of performing analysis of the byte code or source code without any execution. Such type of static code analysis tools is effective in determining weaknesses in the source code which are inclusive of potential concurrent problems, security vulnerabilities. You can make the best use of static code analysis tools for the enforcing of different coding standards and configuration of these tools for running as an integral part of the build automatically.
Unit testing
The software tester needs to write a series of unit tests for ensuring that the unit, whether it is a component, class or method should work as per the expectation. Unit testing should be conducted across a wide array of invalid and valid inputs. In a continuous integration environment, it is possible to run the unit tests each time, a change is introduced in the source code repository and you should opt for various means for running them on the development machine. There are several teams which possess coverage goals for the unit tests. Thus, they will not be capable of making builds in case the unit tests are not that extensive.
Developers are also known to work with virtualized services and mock objects for ensuring that the units are being tested independently. In case the unit tests do not succeed, you require fixing them in no time before any other individual make use of the code. If you fail to fix it at the moment owing to any unavoidable reasons, you need to inform the other individual that there is a bug so that they do not find it surprising when they encounter any issue.
Single-user performance testing
Few teams include performance and load testing in the process of continuous integration. They run the load tests after making an entry of the code. This is primarily done for the back end codes. However, developers should not look at the single-user performance on the front end. They need to ensure that the software is responsive as they are using the system. If it takes more time for displaying a web page from the emulated or local web server, you need to find out the specific thing which results in slowing down. In addition to this, you should ensure to fix the same before someone else find it.
It is recommended to take out enough time and conduct a series of tests before the code is handed to anyone else. Turning the obvious errors and bugs is sure to waste a lot of your time as well as your colleagues. However, you should ensure to maintain the prerequisite balance between software testing and writing the code which is suitable for you. You need to spend almost 40% of the time to write and design code. 5% of the time should be spent in analyzing and reviewing the code. 25% of the time, on the other hand, should be spent on integration testing and unit testing. The remaining 30% of your time should be spent on single-user performance testing and basic functionality testing.
There will be a degradation in the reputation of your business if you leave and ignore the obvious errors and bugs. A developer who fails to find the obvious defects will not be capable of shining or making advancements in his career. You require producing working software which can be used at ease. Thus, you require maintaining a striking balance between reviewing, designing and testing of the code to avoid any hassles at a later off stage.