Agile has become a buzzword off late and you may hear it in different context when it comes to software development.
There are different kinds of software development tools that different developers and software companies follow. One of the famous strategies is the Agile software development. Agile software development is software development methodology which is based on iterative development where it involves effective collaboration between cross-functional teams. It promotes adaptability, simplicity and transparency in approaches which has a quick and flexible response to changes. One of the main components of Agile software development is the Agile Testing.
Agile testing is a method of software testing that adapts the principles emulated by Agile software development. The fundamental principle of this testing method revolves around adapting to rapid deployment cycles. This method focuses on testing the additional parts of an existing application until the application becomes stable. Testers would conduct testing as early as possible from a customer perspective.
A sample scenario where Agile testing is implemented is in website implementation. If there is an existing shopping website where a customer would want to add a sales report feature for users with manager level access, an Agile testing methodology can be used for this set. It is a requirement though that the development of the website should also follow Agile methodology. So in the case of an added sales report feature, testers will add test scripts that will test this particular feature. Other features will be tested in a later phase which may be in the user acceptance test. The assumption here is that the old functionality should remain intact and there is no need for a more in-depth testing of these features.
It is important to note that in Agile testing, the emphasis is on people and interactions rather than the tools and processes. Testers are required to know the features that are being added for a particular iteration as they work closely with customers and developers. This method puts priority on working software. Detailed documentation is not as important as visible working software. One would not find very detailed requirement documentation for this kind of projects. Teams would need to invest time and effort in the development of initial testing methods that will be re-used in a later iteration.
One of the methods that testers can make use is automated test frameworks. Being able to develop an automated testing will give testers time for other tasks such as developing other test scenarios. Although it would take time to have a working and stable automated testing, the investment is well worth it as it would save the team time and effort in the long run. However, automated testing cannot be use in all instances. Developers and testers should plan which scenarios should be automated or manual.
No matter which method of software testing is used by testers, the important thing is that the application should approach towards being bug free. Testers should be confident enough to sign off applications as stable. Testing scripts and scenarios should be able to encompass all possible scenarios of the application. There is a need for users to exercise due diligence to make sure that they have covered all scenarios as discussed with the clients. This way, the adapted testing methods will be effective.
