How Agile Testing Principles Deliver Better Quality Software

The Agile methodology has come to represent a swift and flexible approach to developing and delivering error-free applications to the market. It has allowed developers to decrease production times and streamline the development process so that the product is in alignment with customer needs. In agile, cross-functional teams, especially development and testing, work collaboratively in short iterations. Agile encompasses several practices that vary from traditional software development techniques. The key focus areas of agile methodology in software development are:

• More customer-centric instead of being process-centric.
• Focus on delivering working software rather than detailed documentation.
• Be adaptive to change rather than relying on a fixed plan.

Unlike traditional software development where team members stick to their respective areas, agile is more about continuous integration and testing. In other words, cross-functional teams collaborate to add (and test) new features as they work. Since the software development lifecycle in agile is different, teams ought to follow a different approach towards agile testing.

What is agile testing and how is it different?

In the waterfall method of development, testing is usually implemented at the end of the software development lifecycle. This approach is risky as any error identified within the document needs to be corrected at the last minute. Importantly, many corrections may require developers to strip the software modules from one another to find the root cause, which can be both time and cost-intensive. Testing is a part of the development process in the agile testing methodology, and it is done in an integrated and incremental manner. This enables continuous integration and constant feedback from all stakeholders through short iterative cycles known as sprints.

In an agile testing approach, bugs are identified and fixed quickly, thereby improving the quality of the deployed product. The approach includes planning meetings during the initial sprint where the scope of development and testing in each iteration is defined. And to make the iterations more efficient, agile test automation is implemented.

Testing principles for agile testing methodology

Agile teams need to release new products or features to the market in short development cycles. The entire SDLC is underpinned by delivering a superior customer experience. The challenge of agile application testing is to test the quality of each software module quickly and comprehensively. In an agile testing approach, testers are integrated into the SDLC alongside development by creating a continuous feedback loop. This leads to quality being ‘baked’ right into the code. The various testing principles supporting the agile testing methodology are as follows:

1. Continuous testing: Agile testing experts perform continuous testing of software developed in collaboration with developers in short iterative cycles known as sprints. This is done to ensure the software application remains qualitatively superior at each phase of development.
2. Continuous feedback: The sprint incorporates a continuous feedback loop where agile testers pass on any test-related information to the development team immediately. This results in quick mitigation of glitches.
3. Collaborative effort: The testing process is not a standalone process but a collaborative one where developers, testers, and business analysts form part of the sprint. Even the client or product owner is kept in the loop.
4. Superior quality: Since bugs and vulnerabilities are quickly detected and mitigated in sprints, the individual software modules and the overall software application developed are of superior quality.
5. Less focus on documentation: Agile testing experts focus on changing customer needs and market dynamics instead of documenting requirements.
6. Test driven: Unlike in traditional testing methods, agile testers evaluate the software application before deployment rather than waiting for any adverse customer feedback later.
7. Regression cycles: Developers update their software products by adding features frequently. This can create regressions in the existing features, which are addressed by leveraging agile test automation in a fast-paced environment.
8. Compatibility testing: Since the software application is to be viewed and executed on devices of various types, screen resolutions, and configurations, testers need to rely on performing automation tests across browsers and devices.
9. Face-to-face interaction: During sprint planning, direct, face-to-face communication with all stakeholders - product owners, business analysts, developers, and testers – is done. This ensures everyone is on the same page regarding the sprint goals and scope.
10. Value to the customer: Both developers and testers ensure the software product meets customer requirements through usability testing. Here, feedback from both internal and external customers is taken into consideration before actual deployment.

Conclusion

Agile testing improves the quality of the product and enables organizations to release software applications in shorter cycles. By identifying and mitigating errors early in the development process, the agile testing framework ensures meeting business objectives such as quick deployment, customer satisfaction and retention, and improved revenues.

James Daniel is a software Tech enthusiastic & works at Cigniti Technologies I'm having a great understanding of today's software testing quality