How to Utilize Defect Management Tools Efficiently?

An unexpected event that may occur in a software application is known as a defect. We can say that a perfect defect-free application does not exist. It is nearly impossible to remove all defects from a system or remove them temporarily. Defects keep appearing in the system every now and then, so keeping a track of these defects is extremely important. Development teams used to record these defects in spreadsheets previously, which was a tiresome job. Now there are various defect management tools to identify defects easily and at a very early stage of the software development lifecycle. Defect management works as a backbone for the software development process in finding defects easily. Software testing teams find all the bugs and report them to the developers to fix them. With defect management tools, teams record all the defects and these can also be viewed later for decision making. It is not easy to manage defects when a software project is still being developed, as there are multiple things at the hand of the development teams to handle simultaneously.

Stages of a Bug Management System:

Let’s have a look at the different stages of the process, so we can analyze how to use a defect management tool efficiently:

• Detection of Defects:

The first and foremost step in the bug management process is the detection stage. When these tools did not exist, developers had to do all the bug tracking themselves, which was a time-consuming process. But with the help of defect management systems, the process is simplified. Automated tests help in carrying out tests without human intervention so that development teams can focus on defect management.

• Reporting:

The next step is to report these bugs effectively. Testers develop a defect report that contains all the information about the defects, including its time, type, etc. Preparing this report is not an easy task. Testers have to analyze defects from all aspects and ensure they are reporting the right thing so that developers can take corrective measures to resolve them.

• Fixing Issues and Testing them:

Once the bugs are reported, the process flow moves towards the development teams. They need to fix the issues according to their priority and severity. These can be carried out by using defect management tools.

• Bug List Creation:

It is important to list down all the bugs appearing in a software application, so duplication can be avoided. It is not possible to completely remove all the defects, but maximum efforts can be made to remove as many defects as possible. Thus, a list is important to avoid similar defects, and how to fix them in case they appear, in the shortest time possible.

During all stages of the defect management process, defect management tools can play a vital role. The software development process is complex and due to faster release cycles, it is not possible for enterprises to compromise on quality. Thus, it is crucial to use the right tools, in the right manner, for better results.

Ray Parker is a Senior Marketing Consultant with a knack for writing the latest news in tech, quality assurance, software development and testing.