Introduction to Agile Testing
Agile testing is a software testing process. It follows the principle of Agile software development. It is a connected development methodology, as development and testing activities run parallel here. The development process aligns with the changing requirements of the customers. Agile testing is a continuous process. All project members actively participate in this process. Testing is not a separate phase; instead, it is done together with coding; as a result, the end product is of high quality, meeting the customer’s requirements. The testing begins at the start of the project, and there is an alliance between testing and development. The main objective of the agile team is to achieve quality. The time frames of agile testing are short (1 to 4 weeks) and named Iterations. The testing process runs in parallel with the iterative development model.
Principles of Agile Testing
The mentioned principles are as follows:
1. Continuous: It provides feedback continuously, on an ongoing basis, so the products meet the needs of the business.
2. Teamwork: In other software, the test team is responsible for testing, but in agile testing, along with the test team, the developers and the business analysts are equally involved in the testing.
3. Time of Feedback Response: Since the business team is involved in agile testing, the feedback is fast and continuous, so the feedback response time is short.
4. Clean and Simplified Code: The defects found by the agile team are corrected within the same iteration, and thus the code is kept clean and simplified.
5. Undertaking Tests: Here, testing is done during implementation, whereas in other processes, testing is performed after implementation.
6. Lightweight Documents: Agile testers use reusable checklists to decide on tests to be taken. The documents can be used for several purposes, and the tools are also light.
7. Test-Driven Development: Here, development is driven by testing. The approach known as Test Driven Development (TDD) involves writing test cases according to the requirements. In the Waterfall testing software, testing is done in the last phase.
Values of Agile Testing
- Agile testing prioritizes individuals and communication over rigid processes and tools. Agile testing does not overlook procedures and tools but builds upon robust and reasonable processes and tools, leveraging their strengths. The rule here is that testers drive the tools, and the output depends on the testers, not vice versa.
- The choice made in agile testing is functional and usable software over unusable and comprehensive documentation. The main goal here is the actual testing rather than elaborate documents whose only objective is pointing towards the goal. The documents are present if a member decides to leave.
- Customer participation is the secret here. The project ensures continuous involvement of the client, keeping them informed about the progress. It implies that the client should have regular meetings throughout the project instead of receiving the project directly upon completion. This is extra work but better than working in the wrong direction.
The team accepts and implements any necessary changes. While the project maintains a plan, it remains flexible to accommodate changes in the situation. So one does not have to wait until the end to find out about the changed scenario and have the project dismissed because of the changed requirement.
Agile Testing Methods
There are various agile testing methods:
1. Behavior Driven Development (BDD)
Behavior-driven development improves communication so all members understand each feature before the process starts. Developers, analysts, and testers are in continuous communication.
2. Acceptance Test-Driven Development (ATDD)
The main object here is to involve all the team members, i.e., the customer, tester, and developer, as all three have different perspectives. The customer focuses on solving the problem, the developer focuses on determining how to solve it, and the tester’s objective is to identify potential issues. These tests, known as Acceptance tests, incorporate all three perspectives and describe how the system will function.
3. Exploratory Testing
In such testing, the test design and its execution go hand in hand. The emphasis lies in prioritizing working software over documentation. Individuals and communication are more important than processes and tools. Exploratory tests are more adaptable to changes. The testers design and execute the test plans according to their findings.
Test Plan
In agile testing, the team writes and updates a test plan for each iteration or as required.
It includes:
- Scope of testing
- The newly implemented functionalities are undergoing testing.
- Level or types of testing
- Performance and load testing
- Considering the infrastructure
- Relief plan
- Planning resources
- Deliverables and milestones
Phases of Agile Testing Lifecycle
There are 5 phases of the Agile Testing Lifecycle:
- Impact assessment means gathering inputs from stakeholders and users, which will act as feedback for the next development cycle.
- Agile test planning involves the collaboration of all stakeholders to plan the testing process, meetings, and deliverables.
- In the stage of release readiness, the team decides whether the developed features are ready to go live or not.
- Daily scrums include a regular standing morning meeting to catch up on the testing status and set goals for the day.
- Agility review involves holding weekly meetings with stakeholders to assess the progress made.
Benefits
Agile testing has its benefits. It is both time and money-saving software as it reduces documentation and is very flexible and adaptable to the continuous changes in the business. The final stage of the process incorporates regular feedback from actual users, ensuring they may not be fully aware of the ongoing process.
Agile testing is the perfect software for the early detection of defects, and as the problems are fixed early, the cost of fixing is also reduced. The final product is customer-centric and of high quality. Continuous communication between the teams makes agile testing a success.
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