Whether you plan to develop an operating system software or create helpful mobile application software, it is no surprise that testing is necessary. Before planning the development and creation of any software, developers should include the testing in the essential software development checklist. Unfortunately, not all software programs undergo testing.
Problems may come in with the lack of trial and initial assessment of any software. It doesn’t matter if you have an in-house testing department or employ software testing services. The testing results have the power to make or break the success of any software.
Investing in testing procedures to certify the performance of any software is one of the many steps to keep a developing software relevant for a long time. Note that many software tests fall under these basic types, and it’s a case-to-case basis when choosing the appropriate tests for the program. The only thing all kinds of software share is that all software needs testing before release.
Let this guide help you in identifying and selecting the best test type for your software development.
Automated Testing
Automated testing is a process that saves time and human resources in testing the software. The gist of automated testing is that a testing software tests the current software being developed. Automated testing works best for repetitive tests with expected results. Meaning, the tests don’t need constant monitoring as results should always be the same.
Automated testing also helps in assessing large amounts of code in the software. The coverage of any automated testing is much efficient and broader than manual testing. The only drawback is automated testing can be a hefty cost, and maintenance can be an issue with the lack of people doing real-time monitoring of the tests.
Unless there is a bug or a glitch in the code, the results may become different. There are many powerful programs for automated testing. Under these programs, the most common types of automated testing are as follows:
- Unit testing tests individual components or smaller batches of the software
- Smoke testing assesses the capability of software to undergo more various tests
- Integration testing checks that all components of the software work together properly
- Regression testing checks for any changes or regressions in the software after revisions
- Security testing examines the weaker parts of the software that are open to potential issues and exploitation
- Performance testing involves checking the response rate and functionality of the software before reaching end users
- Stress testing analyzes the operational limits of the software and its possible scalability in the long run
Manual Testing
Manual testing is the process of testing software without using automated tools. Professional testers and test engineers run a test case and objectively inspect the written software. For many software creators, manual testing comes first before figuring out which aspects to sign for automated testing.
As testers get to know the program deeper, many aspects and errors reveal themselves in the software. Moreover, manual testers can assess the software from the perspective of initial users of the program. Whereas automated testing gives results afterward, manual testing becomes a process of revising and retesting specific software segments.
Manual testing can become resource-consuming incredibly. However, the results provide a more “user-ready” program considering testers are actual people who may use the developed program. Testers can present a lot of insight about the software, thus preparing for possible feedback from end-users. These are some of the most common types of manual tests for software:
- White box testing involves inspecting every line of code in the software for potential bugs or errors before running the program
- Black box testing doesn’t show any line of code and tests for the functionality of the software without seeing any of the code
- Grey box testing combines both strategies from the black and white testing
Conclusion
There are many other tests that professional testers can perform for software. There is no single fit to test and ensure that any software is perfect. This is why there are many changes and versions of software from creators and developers.
Most companies use a mix of both manual and automated testing to assess the software. For tests that are lengthy and taxing to individual testers, automated testing programs do the job. Estimations and projections show that in the near future, the automation testing market will grow rapidly. 18% growth is projected globally as companies invest in programs to check their software.
Does this mean that manual testing becomes obsolete? No. There is a predicted 7% annual growth rate for the software testing market in the United States. The majority of the share falls on professional services with certified testers and people who perform the software testing. Remember that people can give out something more in-tune with user experience than any program running and rerunning the code.
The right combination and strategy for software testing is always the key to successful software. The real deal falls on companies and teams deciding to invest in testing their products before making them available to people.
