Tips

Exploratory Software Testing

5 key ways to fulfill the role of QA in DevOps

DevOps teams want production-ready code, which means someone in this fast-moving pipeline needs to think like a user. Enter QA, with its toolkit of exploratory tests, design review and more. Continue Reading
Use Docker for testing to get more done in less time

The aim of containers is to simplify development work. Testers can enjoy the benefits, too, as these isolated systems free up time for stress, soak, security and exploratory tests. Continue Reading
Learn how to improve software quality with reverse-engineering

Customer complaints about a team's app can contain insight on how to improve it. Yet, to decipher the actual cause of any problem and a change to fix it, QA needs to be brought in. Continue Reading
Checklist for mobile app testing: 12 gaps to look out for

Emulators and automation tools are useful, but don't rely on them solely. Use this checklist for mobile app testing to ensure that software has no critical flaws. Continue Reading
Testers add this new skill to your repertoire: chaos engineering

Software testers just want to just focus on the application. But networks, clouds and other things can break your software too. Gerie Owen explains how chaos engineering can help. Continue Reading

How to track configuration changes in mobile app testing

Amy Reichert reviews tips on how we should track configuration changes in mobile app testing. Continue Reading
Electric utility device testing in the smart grid era

Learn how to test your electric utility device, and why it makes sense to do this in the age of the smart grid. Continue Reading
Finding more defects with Agile exploratory testing

Agile exploratory testing can help teams discover more defects, allowing everyone on the team to explore all the ways a customer can use the application. Continue Reading
Software development bugs: How to identify and prevent them

With strong Agile practices such as unit testing, code reviews and proper attention to requirements, bugs can be prevented or found early in the application lifecycle. Continue Reading
Continuous integration made simple: Five lessons you won't want to miss

In this tip, SSQ contributor Matt Heusser provides five valuable lessons which will help you avoid CI complications, such as a slow release process. Read on for lessons in an effective strategy for continuous integration. Continue Reading
Early days of Agile development: Lessons for small projects

In 2003, QA professional Chris McMahon was one of a team of two implementing a small project using Agile techniques. Though the methodology was new, the guidelines of the Agile Manifesto were taken into account in determining how to best proceed. In... Continue Reading

Scripted testing vs. exploratory testing

The merits of scripted testing vs. exploratory testing are often debated among software quality gurus. In this tip, Vasudeva Naidu does a deep dive into both. While automation of scripted tests is certainly becoming more prevalent in the industry, ... Continue Reading
Is automated testing replacing the software tester?

As automation becomes more popular in software development, testers are wondering if their skills are becoming obsolete. Managers may question how to staff their organizations. In this tip, senior test architect David W. Johnson describes the ... Continue Reading
Automated test scripts: The Smartphones of testing

From test-driven development to GUI automation, author and Agile expert Lisa Crispin describes the many uses for automation in software testing. By using tools and programming techniques to automate tedious and repetitive processes or test steps, a ... Continue Reading
Testing the user interface: Automated and exploratory testing

Should user interface (UI) testing be automated or exploratory? In this tip, SSQ contributor Chris McMahon answers that both automated and exploratory testing can be used for UI testing, and what is most effective is using them together. McMahon ... Continue Reading