Quality Assurance (QA) has always been a critical component of software development progress. There can't be a software development team without at least one Quality Assurance analyst (who does a critical analysis and testing of the application).
In addition, a QA has a more extensive role in agile development than traditional development methodologies. Let's look at how a QA may help the board with its Agile duty and how that function can be insecure.
The Agile technique is a project management approach that breaks a project into stages. It necessitates constant stakeholder contact and development at each phase. Teams go through a cycle of planning, executing, and evaluating once the project begins.
Collaboration between team members and project stakeholders is critical. Agile also aids in reducing technical debt, increasing customer happiness, and producing a higher-quality product in less time.
Agile testing adheres to Agile development's best practices. For example, agile development is a step-by-step design approach performed sequentially.
The agile QA process implements at the beginning of the Software Development Life Cycle. We've covered you from the first design meeting to the final round of testing and stabilizing the application. Testing is done in several sprint iterations and close collaboration with the developers until the project completes.
Tests are prioritized in the same way as the user stories are. Testers aim to finish as many tests as feasible in each cycle. Using automated testing technologies can assist testers in completing more of the testing backlog.
Most businesses have switched from a waterfall to an agile development process to ensure faster and smooth release of the software into the market rather than causing the project to derail entirely. Lesson’s learned from the previous projects can be used by the quality assurance (QA) team to analyze and improve the process for future initiatives.
Early Test and Early Feedback
In Agile development, testing needs to happen early and often. So, instead of waiting for development to be finished before testing begins. As new features are available, the testing will continue. Early and constantly testing will allow the QA (Quality Assurance) engineers to find errors/bugs faster.
Thereby providing early feedback to the developers to fix the error quicker, ensuring and lowering the risk of finding a critical issue/bug at the end of the testing and release cycle.
An Agile Test Plan is critical because it allows Quality Assurance (QA) team to keep all high-level scenarios, business requirements, and estimates in one location. In addition, QA Analysts or Agile Testers will fill up an Agile Test Plan during the sprint planning event. Therefore, an Agile Test Plan with an adequate and clear structure should incorporate business inputs and QA tasks.
Agile Test Plans usually begin with an introduction, even a project overview containing general information about the sprint's testing procedure. This section of the text covers the following topics:
In Agile development, tests come first. You must define the approval criteria while creating a user narrative. It makes no difference if we use Scrum, XP, or Kanban as an Agile test methodology. Agile testing methodologies often include the following.
TDD (test-driven development) begins with tests. This development method starts with a discussion of what we want to test, followed by the design of a user story. As a result, we will begin by developing a unit test, followed by a user story. Finally, we build code till it passes the unit test. The most common usages of TDD are unit and component tests performed with automated testing tools.
ATDD stands for acceptance test-driven development. However, ATDD begins with user feedback on its functioning. This type of project starts with discussing how the product will use. As a result, you create a user acceptability test (UAT). Then, the code is updated till it passes the test. ATDD is frequently used to conduct acceptance testing. It ensures that the product performs as expected by users.
TDD and ATDD are frequently the sources of behavior-driven development. The objective of evolution in behavior-driven links to a business outcome. So you'll have a user story — but it needs to explain why this feature formed in business terms. Tests include user stories as scenarios or requirements in BDD. BDD is used to conduct acceptance testing. It verifies that the product's characteristics are necessary for the desired business outcome.
Exploratory testing is a type of testing that allows testers to go with their instincts rather than following a predetermined path, usually accomplished by hand. Instead, you record your actions and store them as a test. And as you proceed, you figure out precisely what you're testing. This type of testing can reveal a product's hidden risks. These are the bugs missed during TDD functional testing.
Session-based testing resembles exploratory testing, which is more structured. You start with a task in mind rather than figuring out what you're testing as you go. Session-based testing can uncover issues that may conceal within a project.
The three pillars of Agile software development are flexibility, sustainability, and quality. These are some of the best practices for efficient and productive engagement on Agile teams to gain a deeper grasp of Agile methodologies.
When this comes to Agile, the first and most important goal is to provide Customer Satisfaction. In typical development techniques, customers are involved in the beginning when demands are established and at the end when the project got finished, which leads to consumer dissatisfaction.
Because feedback is essential for creating a great product, the Agile approach involves the customer throughout the process, communicating options, clarifying expectations, and collaborating on changes. The team's and the customer's constant contact fosters creativity and improves customer satisfaction.
Agile involves a group of people working together to produce successful projects. Increased teamwork through coordination, good communication, mutual support, and a contributive perspective are critical for an agile team. They are empowered to make bold decisions that result in cutting-edge products when they work together.
Creativity will guide motivation. It is a critical aspect of any business. Motivated people have a purpose in mind when they go to work every day, and they are people who are focused and want to get better at what they do. Agile teams are motivated gifts to any firm and can keep up with the fast pace.
Self-organizing teams that work in symmetry guide agile software development. They are skilled in deciding how they complete the task and who will be responsible for what. They break down their projects into smaller iterations and finish them in a sprint.
Conclusion
Iterative software development is the core of agile techniques. Each iteration culminates in the production of a fully functional module. An iteration of code or development should not take longer than the sprint timeline, which is two weeks.
Agile methodologies encourage engineers to participate in testing rather than having a unique quality assurance team. Agile procedures the high desirable in the quickly changing software life cycle due to new techniques and concepts that enable a team to produce a product in a short amount of time.
Are you striving for Agile perfection in your software development journey? Look no further. At Fission Labs, we understand the paramount importance of a robust Agile QA process and can help you navigate the intricacies of Agile testing with finesse.
Our team of seasoned QA professionals possesses a wealth of experience in Agile methodologies, and we're ready to empower your software development projects. By leveraging best practices and cutting-edge tools, we ensure that your software is not just functional but impeccable.
Why Choose Fission Labs for Agile QA?
Don't miss out on the opportunity to achieve Agile excellence with our tailored QA solutions. Contact Us today to schedule a consultation with our Agile QA experts. Together, we'll embark on a journey to streamline your QA process, accelerate software delivery, and elevate your product quality.
Get in touch with Fission Labs now, and let's transform your Agile QA process into a competitive advantage!
Content Credit: Satya Deepika Tellkula & Devi Thushara Pendyala
