#future of software testing

Software testing is the process of evaluating a software application or system to detect potential bugs, defects, or errors

Future Trends In Software Testing - Edu-Art

Cloud-Testing Life Cycle

The clod-testing life cycle includes the following activities. Test Manager/Project manager/Test leader plays the role of Test admin. Test admin creates the test scenarios and designs test cases. Based on the scenarios and test cases, automated test script will be generated either by test admin or professional tester. Once a cloud service provider is available to test admin, he creates the user to give access to testers. Cloud-service provider set-up the infrastructure. Test users/Testers use the credentials to log in to the portal and can use all the assets available. The Cloud testing process starts here. Testers perform the testing. After completion of the process, cloud testing providers deliver the result.

Testing firewalls and load balancers involve the expenditure on hardware, software, and maintenance. In the case of applications where the rate of increase in some users is unpredictable or there is variation in deployment environment depending on client requirements, cloud testing is more effective.

Software testing has also undergone a long-drawn evolution cycle. From ad-hoc practices within different business units, it gradually evolved into a centralized Managed Test Center approach. However, the testing paradigm has changed and there are major challenges that need to be overcome, such as infrastructure availability, complexity, and increasing costs. Traditional application testing has its limitations as well, like latency, performance, concurrency, planning, and extremely expensive execution costs.

                        Also Read: What is Cloud Computing and It’s Type

As technology innovation continues to make software available on various platforms and devices, software quality assurance has also caught up with the latest digital trends with its innovation. Cloud testing is a game-changer and surpasses the challenges faced with traditional testing. Setting up the cloud testing service is very straight forward for any organization: develop user scenarios, design test cases, select cloud services provider, set up infrastructure, leverage cloud servers, start testing, monitor testing goals and deliver results.

Types of Testing Supported:

Stress:     Stress Test is used to determine ability of application to maintain a     certain level of effectiveness beyond breaking point. It is essential for     any application to work even under excessive stress and maintain stability.     assures this by creating peak loads using simulators. But the cost of     creating such scenarios is enormous. Instead of investing capital in     building on-premises testing environments, cloud testing offers an     affordable and scalable alternative.

Load:     Load testing of an application involves creation of heavy user traffic and     measuring its response. There is also a need to tune the performance of     any application to meet certain standards. A number of tools are available     for this purpose.

Performance:     Testing performance under a particular workload is necessary. By using     cloud testing, it is easy to create such environment and vary the nature     of traffic on-demand. This effectively reduces cost and time by simulating     thousands of geographically targeted users.

Functional: Functional     testing of both internet and non-internet applications can be performed     using cloud testing. The process of verification against specifications or     system requirements is carried out in the cloud instead of on-site     software testing.

Compatibility: Using     cloud environment, instances of different operating systems can be created     on demand, making compatibility testing effortless.

Browser     performance: Testing in various versions of browsers can be performed in     cloud.

Latency:     Cloud testing is utilized to measure the latency between the action and     the corresponding response for any application after deploying it on     cloud.

Strong     points of cloud-based software testing:

The     testing environment is dynamic and readily available. The on-demand     nature of cloud-based testing is a big draw for organizations who need     fast turnaround time and do not mind self-service. Most cloud testing     applications work using a subscription model, so any user with a browser     can register and start testing immediately.

The     services are secure and affordable. Testing can be performed in     either public, private or hybrid clouds. The public cloud is the most     cost-efficient choice, and an acceptable level of security is maintained.     For a mix of cost-effectiveness and top-tier security, many organizations     opt for testing in hybrid cloud.

Elastic     scalability. Cloud-based testing allows you to ramp up and ramp down     as your needs change or your project goals shift.

It     allows for simple disaster recovery. In the cloud, recovery of any     assets is quick and easy, not laborious or complex.

Cost-effective     on the whole. Working via the cloud lowers costs associated with     server maintenance and engineer labor.

Software Testing Futures for 2020

The field of software testing is undergoing continuous evolution. With the ongoing developments in technology, software testing experts have come up with the latest trends for the software testing industry.

In the field of software testing, the year 2020 will witness a shift from performance testing to performance engineering. Performance engineering will focus on important elements like configuration quality, convenience, the practicality of use, and customer value to provide enhanced customer experiences.

Also Read: Top Emerging Cloud Computing Trends to Watch in Future

Cloud testing is under constant evolution and is continuously bringing in new opportunities and challenges. Moving to a test to the cloud is more cost-effective for any organization as long as it does not include sensitive data and there is minimal impact on the organization’s business activities. Some may have the opinion that small business units will harness public clouds, while large enterprises will leverage private clouds for their cloud-based testing services. Whether the company is large or small though, the road to cloud-based testing is paved with its own set of challenges.

If you would like to find out more about V2Soft’s cloud testing and other testing options check out our Testing Solutions page!

 Some cloud computing statistics that you should know

1. Cloud By 2015, end-user spending on cloud services could be more than $180 billion.

2. There is an estimated 1 Exabyte of data stored in the cloud.

3. Cisco forecasts that global data center traffic will triple from 2.6 zettabytes in 2012 to 7.7 zettabytes annually in 2017, representing a 25 percent CAGR

4. 59% of all new spending on cloud computing services originates from North American enterprises, a trend projected to accelerate through 2016.

Also Read: Essential Stages of Software Testing

How V2Soft Software Testing Services Works

V2Soft provides end-to-end independent validation and verification services to support ongoing maintenance releases for new enhancements including regression, functional testing, and performance testing.

The digital world is increasingly getting cluttered with scores of companies slugging it out to remain relevant and competitive. Software is the glue that binds the whole IT infrastructure in a company and across the global online landscape. Moreover, the success of any business in the online sphere depends on the quality and performance of its products and their eventual adoption by the end customers. It has been observed that businesses, in order to reach the market quickly, often give software testing a miss.

The predominant thinking among companies looking at cost optimization and maximizing profits is that QA is an adjunct that can be done without. They feel all software applications are supposed to work seamlessly and there is no need to spend time, effort, and money into ensuring so. However, in today’s world of competitive populism and achieving brand equity, this type of thought process is a recipe for disaster. Remember, building a brand brick by brick can wither away in no time should a software application delivers a bad user experience. This can eventually impact the brand value of a business as well.

Today, when cybercrime has raised its ugly head leading businesses and individuals to grapple with data theft and loss of reputation, software testing should be pursued with all vigor. It will ultimately ensure the software delivered to the end customer remains glitch-free and delivers the best user experience. In a competitive business environment where every business wants to grab the elusive customer pie, the quality of software application will ultimately decide who wins the race. The writing on the wall for businesses is - perform or perish, where perform entails conducting software testing across the SDLC.

What is software application testing?

It involves executing a series of steps to identify glitches that are inherent in the software. The software testing methodology may differ based on specific business objectives - manual or automated. However, it is geared towards checking the performance, security, compatibility, usability, reliability, and integration of the software application.

In the Software Development Life Cycle, each unit of the software code needs to be tested to deliver the expected outcomes. If not, the same is sent back to the development team for rectification. In the Agile driven software testing methodology, the testing goes on alongside development in an integrated module called the sprint. Post rectification, the QA team again conducts the tests until the unit performs to its optimum. The various software testing approach comprises unit testing, functional testing, security testing, regression testing, stress, and load testing, usability testing, system testing, integration testing, and acceptance testing.

What are the software testing challenges?

There are challenges galore when it comes to testing software with multiple features/functionalities and having connections to other software systems. Some of the challenges are -

·         There is no single foolproof method to test the entirety of a software application given the plethora of device platforms available. The QA team needs to employ various test combinations and scenarios depending on the target demography and business goals.

·         Setting up a uniform testing mechanism in an organization having various processes, teams, and branches that are spread across locations and time zones can be a challenge.

·         Lack of proper communication between the development and QA teams can hinder the testing efforts. For example, changes in the app features should be communicated to the QA team to ensure timely bug identification and removal.

·         An effective software testing approach should ensure the application works across devices, operating platforms, browsers, and networks. This can prove to be challenging for companies following manual testing or using an inappropriate tool for automated testing.

What are the benefits of software testing?

Businesses need to include QA process in their SDLC to derive a slew of benefits.

·         A rigorous testing of software applications will eliminate glitches and enhance the quality of software. Such software will stand a greater chance of finding acceptance by the customers. This will help the business to consolidate its brand equity in the market.

·         QA testing ensures the software’s adherence to industry quality standards and helps to avoid the risks or pitfalls of non-compliance.

·         Any modern software testing leads to business optimization with outcomes such as better-quality products, satisfied customers, enhanced brand image, reduced cost of operation or customer service, and increased ROI.

Conclusion

In a highly competitive business environment where perform or perish is the mantra, businesses need to adopt QA testing in their workflows to remain profitable.

The unprecedented run of technology and digitization has brought enormous benefits for everyone. Software development has become more sophisticated and is largely guided by market dynamics. With digitization ushering in a new age of consumerism and offering outcomes such as ease of access, speed and agility, convenience, and scalability, the process of software development has changed. The traditional SDLC has given way to Agile and DevOps with software application testing becoming an integral part of the whole workflow.

As new technological platforms and trends have taken centre stage and businesses adopting digitization in a big way, QA courtesy software testing services has undergone a change as well. In the test-driven SDLC environment, development and QA have become mutually complementary rather than exclusive. Thus, QA experts belonging to any software application testing firm should adopt new developments in the field of testing. Let us find out what is new in the software testing services market.

New trends in implementing software testing methodology

With quality, cost, and competition becoming the guiding parameters for businesses in setting up their objectives, they need to adopt the latest software testing approach.

·         Test automation sans scripts: As changing customer preferences and competition demands quick release of quality software applications, businesses have included test automation in their testing arsenal. Automation helps to do away with mundane testing efforts and accelerates the process. However, one of the biggest challenges in implementing test automation is writing test scripts. This requires considerable expertise and experience on the part of testers, for any missing parameter would render vulnerabilities or glitches to remain undetected.

This is where scriptless test automation can address the challenge and enhance the scalability of testing - functional, regression, performance, etc. In scriptless test automation, QA experts get on with automating test cases without worrying about coding. This way, a lot of time that is likely to be spent on understanding and writing the code, can be saved.

·         Big data testing: With digital transformation picking up speed, a humongous quantum of data gets generated across business verticals. Since such data can have hidden vulnerabilities and glitches with wider security ramifications, these need to be tested rigorously. At the outset of big data testing, the quality of data is ascertained on the basis of factors such as integrity, redundancy, completeness, consistency, conformity, and accuracy. In this software testing approach, QA experts ensure the success of testing, especially performance and functional, using commodity cluster and accompanying components.

·         Artificial Intelligence: The advancements in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AM and ML) have been utilized by software testing services for quite some time now. These help in optimizing the testing scenario by generating better test data, cases, scripts, and reports. Smart analytics provided by AI and ML can help QA specialists to identify faults and the areas for testing. AI and ML can help in prioritizing such test cases and predict risks associated with a software release. In the ultimate analysis, taking the help of AI and ML can ensure greater accuracy in software application testing.

·         IoT testing: With digital transformation becoming a reality, the presence of connected devices communicating with each other over the internet has increased. Since the performance of these IoT components has a bearing on the overall functioning of a smart system, they need to be tested. The slew of tests associated with IoT testing checks and validates the usability, compatibility, scalability, performance, data integrity, and security of IoT devices. For example, the performance of a driverless car can only be successful and optimal should the various sensors embedded in the car function to their optimal level. Any glitch thereon can lead to unforeseen outcomes such as the car meeting with an accident.

·         Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS): Digital transformation is accompanied by security challenges as well. Of late, there have been cases of businesses and individuals being hit by malware, ransomware, trojans, and other attacks. This is where penetration testing can help by identifying the vulnerabilities in a cloud-based or in-house system. The PTaaS methodology helps in validating the entire technology stack used in an organization.

Conclusion

The software application methodology should incorporate the latest trends in testing to address the growing challenges of compatibility, security, and scalability. These trends would help businesses to deliver foolproof software applications and enhanced user experience.

Check out this e-Book showcases insights and trends observed in the software testing space based leading analyst reports, empirical findings and observations

Software development has become the sine qua non for enterprises looking to embrace digitization to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and achieve ROI. At the same time, reaching out to customers with quality software in the quickest possible time is what drives the whole digital ecosystem. However, maintaining the quality of software is not always an easy thing to do, for there is a conflicting business imperative of keeping the cost within limits as well. Add to this the rapidly changing technology and development models and you are caught between the devil and the deep sea – executing rigorous testing and keeping the cost within limits.

If previously it was about following the traditional waterfall model of manual testing to identify and eliminate bugs in the software, today the situation is different. The difference has come about on account of an increased threat of malware, changing customer preferences, and an intense competition to be the first one in the market. The three imperatives can only be met if enterprises ensure the security, quality, and speedy delivery of software. Needless to say, the traditional waterfall model of software testing does not fit the bill to address the above mentioned imperatives. The reasons include the model’s slowness in executing manual testing, poor test coverage, and a little scope for repetitive testing.

The Agile DevOps model of Testing early and frequently

The inadequacy of the waterfall model stemmed from the fact that software testing post development and integration increased the complexity of eliminating glitches. This is due to the fact that developers, in order to fix glitches, had to unbundle the codes to reach the unit level. This led to the adoption of the Agile model of software development where the software testing approach is shift left. In other words, the testing of software is done early on during the development cycle as the two processes (development and testing) are executed simultaneously in what is called a development sprint. The software testing approach forms part of the Agile and DevOps methodologies in which Continuous Integration and Delivery are the key outcomes.

In today’s scenario of software development, Continuous Integration pre-empts many integration glitches. It ensures the SDLC delivers a well-knit software that meets the business objectives. In simple terms, the Agile model of software testing methodology incurs fewer expenses to fix glitches vis-à-vis the waterfall model.

Why Agile?

The software development process, especially the mission critical one, has become complex. This is due to the fact that software needs precision to be able to function effectively across a slew of digital elements. These include devices, platforms, frameworks, operating systems, browsers, and networks. To meet the deadlines of software development, testing, integration, and delivery within the specified time and cost, different teams work collaboratively.

The future of software testing – is test early, test frequently still relevant?

The advent of new technologies has whetted the appetite of customers. The customers of today look for software that has amazing features and functionalities, and at the same time, are quick and precise in delivering outcomes as well. Moreover, as the functioning of software depends on its interfaces (read APIs) with the immediate digital environment, the resulting complexity can only be addressed by the Agile-DevOps’ testing early and testing frequently software testing methodology.

Also, since the end customer experience has become the be-all and end-all objective for enterprises to stay competitive, the cornerstones of DevOps viz., Continuous Integration and Delivery have become the rigmarole to be followed in any SDLC. To ensure tomorrow’s software straddling cutting edge technological paradigms like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Blockchain, Predictive Analysis, Big Data and others delivers the business objectives, the following processes should be embraced.

Test Automation: The best way to address the software testing challenges is by embracing test automation of a select number of processes. In fact, Artificial Intelligence can be used to write automated test scripts and predict glitches based on analysing the past outcomes.

Security Testing: The security threats from malware have become arguably the biggest challenge facing the global digital ecosystem. To address the challenge, every software should have security as an integral part of its testing in the DevOps mould.

Regression Testing: The slew of modern software testing validating the performance, functionality, usability, and security of software should have regression testing at the unit level. This would enable the software to be compatible with the many versions of the elements of digital environment.

Conclusion

Test early and frequently is not passé but rather underpins the whole software application testing architecture in the SDLC. Its relevance is only going to increase as more enterprises take the digital transformation initiative to stay competitive.