What Is Software QA? 5 Tips to Get You Ahead

You rely on your software to do business. It’s the public face of your company, the one every client interacts with. Your software must do two things:

• offer your customer a usable and useful experience, and
• generate revenue.

Either can be hard to do if your software glitches during use. Maybe the glitch is caused by unexpected volume, or by unanticipated user actions…or maybe, your developers thought “good enough” was, well, good enough. Not so for today’s fickle users. And not so for your bottom line. Good enough isn’t always good enough, for your customers or your business.

Welcome to the realm of software quality assurance, or SQA. Incorporating quality testing during software development enables your company to offer a usable and useful product at first release. Waiting for user satisfaction metrics through surveys or other feedback is a thing of the past. QA is the make-it-or-break-it addition to your software development process. It combines project and configuration management with real-time user testing by knowledgeable experts. When software QA is properly integrated into every step of the development process, it prevents unhappy clients and the lost revenue they represent.

What is Software QA?

Your company is awesome. Your software should be, too. Sure, your dev team can fix code during trials, but having a comprehensive quality assurance program will take your product to the next level. Quality assurance is more than just detecting issues and rewriting code during development.

Software QA is a comprehensive dev support process designed to find and fix errors now, and prevent errors later, while aligning development with business goals. Real-world use often brings real-world problems, ones that can’t be anticipated on the test bench. QA strives to eliminate such situations before they start.

A good QA program incorporates testing through all phases of design. It identifies business requirements, determines product and performance specifications, and understands user needs through functional testing. Then, it takes these criteria further; developing real-world testing scenarios and offering feedback designed to maximize user experience and reduce costs.

Incorporating a comprehensive quality assurance program into the design process informs your dev team of functionality issues from the start. Because, as we know, if it’s not usable it won’t get used.

So, what are the key concepts to keep in mind when implementing a QA program? Let’s take a look.

1. Know the Difference Between Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Maybe your existing software QA process isn’t providing the results you want. If your downstream clients are having issues with your software, your QA process might not be asking the right questions. This can result from mistaking quality control with quality assurance. The difference in the two?

Quality control looks at process performance: “Is the software doing the thing you want it to do?”

Quality assurance furthers this goal to ask: “Have we identified user requirements and merged these with our business requirements?” This might seem like a fine-line distinction, but it’s not. Development based on business and user needs benefits both, above and beyond simply offering a “functional” platform.

2. Align Business Interests with Quality Assurance Goals

Poor quality software costs more than you think. Pressure to deliver a software product often means that QA testing is done last, if at all. This is the sort thinking that often leads to the costliest mistake of all; that of dissatisfied users. In today’s online environment, software has a limited amount of time to prove itself useful. For website and web-apps 60-80% of new users are lost within the first week of signup. For mobile apps, 70-80% can be lost after the first day!

Even the most tech-y of users won’t stand for poorly executed interfaces, and they’re the minority. Most users aren’t techophiles. They want clean interfaces, clear direction, and most of all, they want a hassle-free experience. Software testing alone can’t be the only metric for success. Aligning your product with your process from a user perspective achieves positive results throughout the development process and beyond.

3. Is “Test Early and Often” Enough?

We’ve all used this phrase at one point, but what does it really mean? Is testing early in the development process enough? Realistically, it’s only one part of the puzzle. Instead of testing after requirements have been determined and coding is started, or nearly done, wrap testing into the process from the requirements phase.

Create —and use — a standardized assessment program. This allows your dev team to understand where and how processes impact the rest of the company, and to develop products based on a unified company goal.

4. Testing Shouldn’t be Taken Lightly, and Neither Should Your Testers

A solid QA program knows better than to rely on inexperienced testers. Use experienced testers who understand code, have business experience, and pay attention to detail. Then, empower them. Without the power to make decisions, testers are little more than advisors; often overlooked or ignored altogether.

Make sure your QA team isn’t just an advisory committee. Then, make sure their feedback doesn’t get buried by deadlines and financials. Make sure reporting isn’t funneled through groups responsible for development timeline or costs. Rushing a product to market without full and integrated testing will only cost time and money in the future.

5. Cultivate Relationships

Relationships make the world go ‘round. Healthy ones are good for us and our businesses. Support collaboration and communication between your development and testing teams. If they respect each other and communicate issues freely, your organization saves time and money. Healthy relationships equal healthy profits.

The Moral?

Failing to determine end-user needs or business requirements during development can be as costly as failing to test for bugs or performance issues. Keeping an eye on each of these 5 areas during your QA process will maximize ROI, and ensure smooth business operations. Be a smooth operator; make sure your QA program incorporates the guidelines above!

Frequently Asked Questions About Software Testing

What is the Difference Between Black-Box, White-Box, and Gray-Box Testing?

Understanding the differences between black-box, white-box, and gray-box testing is crucial for anyone involved in software development or quality assurance. Each method offers unique insights into the software with distinct approaches.

Black-Box Testing

In black-box testing, testers evaluate the functionality of the software without any knowledge of its internal workings. Imagine you’re trying to solve a puzzle without looking at its pieces; the focus is on input and expected output. Testers simulate user interactions to identify unexpected behavior, making this method ideal for user-interface and functional testing.

White-Box Testing

Conversely, white-box testing operates with complete transparency. Testers have full access to the code, similar to having a map for a maze. This approach allows them to create tests that specifically target the internal logic and structures of the system. It’s frequently employed for code optimization and ensuring proper flow control.

Gray-Box Testing

Gray-box testing strikes a balance between the two. Testers have some knowledge of the internal structures, but not to the extent of white-box testing. Think of it as having a rough sketch of the puzzle. This method is particularly useful for testing web services and integrations, where understanding certain elements of the backend can lead to more targeted testing without getting into intricate code details.

In sum, each type of testing involves a different approach to analyzing and solving problems within software, tailored to varying levels of system knowledge. This ensures comprehensive software evaluation through multiple perspectives.

What is the Difference Between Manual and Automated Testing?

In software quality assurance programs, the roles of manual testers and automated testers serve distinct purposes and require different skill sets. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for anyone navigating the tech landscape today.

Manual Testing

Manual testing involves a human tester who performs test cases without the assistance of any automation tools. It requires intuition, exploratory skills, and the ability to adapt to unexpected results. This type of testing is beneficial in situations where human observation is essential. For example:

• User Interface (UI) Checks: Assessing the visual aspects of a software application.
• User Experience (UX) Evaluation: Gauging how intuitive and satisfying the product is from a user’s perspective.
• Ad-hoc Testing: When testers search for defects outside the standard testing process.

However, the demand for manual testers is often lower, particularly in sectors where speed and efficiency are critical.

Automated Testing

Automated testing, or test automation, utilizes scripts and software tools to run tests automatically. This method is ideal for repetitive tasks and regression testing, where the same operations need to be validated consistently. Benefits of automated testing include:

• Speed and Efficiency: Tests are executed rapidly, allowing for more frequent testing cycles.
• Scalability: Handle large volumes of tests effortlessly.
• Cost-effectiveness: Reduces human resource expenses over time.

Prominent tools used in automated testing include Selenium, JUnit, and TestComplete, which aid in enhancing the accuracy and depth of testing processes.

Choosing the Right Approach

The decision between manual and automated testing often hinges on the project’s requirements. Manual testing remains relevant for exploratory testing where human intuition is paramount. Conversely, automated testing is favored for stability and speed in large-scale and long-term projects, making it a staple in many industries. Balancing the two can ensure robust and reliable software products.

What are Some Common Tools and Applications Used by Software Testers

Numerous tools and applications support software testers in achieving efficiency and accuracy. Here’s a breakdown of some essential categories and tools:

Automated Testing Frameworks

As mentioned, automated testing is a key component of modern software development. Testers often rely on frameworks that streamline this process and may offer additional functionalities like continuous integration and code management. Some popular choices include:

• Appium: Specializes in testing mobile platforms.
• Selenium: A widely-used tool for web application testing.
• JUnit: Primarily used for testing Java applications.
• Robot Framework: A versatile tool supporting keyword-driven testing.

Project Management and Bug Tracking

To keep projects organized and manage issues efficiently, testers often use project management software integrated with bug and event trackers:

• Jira: Known for its robust bug tracking features.
• Bugzilla: Another popular choice for tracking bugs and issues.

Browser and Cross-Browser Testing

Ensuring that web applications function across different browsers is crucial. Tools for this purpose include:

• BrowserStack: Provides a cloud platform for testing across various browsers and devices.

Web Load Testing

Understanding how applications perform under load is vital, and these tools help:

• JMeter: An open-source tool for load testing.
• Wapt: Offers solutions for testing web application performance.

Collaborative Tools

Collaboration is key in software development. Wiki software helps teams share knowledge effectively:

• Confluence: A tool that allows for the creation and sharing of project documentation.

These tools and applications collectively aid testers in ensuring software quality and enhancing collaboration among development teams.

Contact Us

If you’d like to read more about the benefits a software QA program offers, check out these case studies by QualityLogic. Or just send us a quick note and we’ll be in touch!