8.5.2 - Why it’s valuable in Agile
Enroll to start learning
You’ve not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take practice test.
Interactive Audio Lesson
Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.
Importance of Early Testing
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Today, we are going to explore the importance of early testing in Agile. Why do you think testing should occur from the start of the development cycle?
I think it helps find bugs sooner, so they are cheaper to fix!
Exactly! Early testing allows us to detect issues earlier, which reduces costs associated with fixing them later. We can use the acronym 'FAST' to remember: Find, Analyze, Solve, and Test!
What about collaboration? How does that fit in?
Great question! In Agile, collaboration is key. QAs and developers should work side by side, which fosters a culture of shared responsibility for quality.
So, is automation important too?
Yes! Automation supports continuous testing and speeds up the feedback loop. Always remember the principle: 'Automate the routine to focus on the exceptional'.
Can you recap what we discussed?
Of course! We talked about the significance of early testing, fostering collaboration in Agile, and using automation for efficiency. Remember: Early testing is proactive, and proactive is productive!
Exploratory Testing
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Moving on, what is exploratory testing? Why do you think it's valuable in Agile?
Isn't it testing without scripts?
Correct! Exploratory testing involves simultaneous learning, test design, and execution. It’s particularly useful in identifying edge cases that scripted tests might miss.
How can we implement it effectively?
Using charter-based sessions can guide your exploration. For example, 'Explore the checkout process for error handling'. This encourages systematic checking while still being flexible.
What about documenting findings?
Always document your observations and raise issues with evidence like screenshots. This helps maintain a record and provides developers with context.
What should we take away from this?
The value of exploratory testing is in its ability to find issues that traditional methods might overlook. Mixing it with automation can lead to richer testing coverage.
Sprint Review and Continuous Improvement
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Let's talk about the Sprint Review. What role does QA play in this stage?
I think they validate the features before the demo.
Yes! QA ensures everything is ready for demonstration and can also help identify defects that need addressing. How do you think this contributes to continuous improvement?
It gives us feedback on what worked and what didn't, right?
Exactly! The retrospective phase is where QA can recommend enhancements based on their testing experiences.
What improvements could they suggest?
They could suggest ways to enhance story readiness or even push for more automation to streamline tests. Remember, QA must be proactive rather than just reactive.
Let's summarize this session!
Certainly! QA's role in the Sprint Review is crucial for validation and improvement. Continuous feedback loops help improve future sprints. Learning is key!
Introduction & Overview
Read summaries of the section's main ideas at different levels of detail.
Quick Overview
Standard
In Agile, testing is not an isolated phase but a continuous and collaborative process embedded in every sprint, with QA teams focusing on early and automated testing. This approach helps in uncovering edge cases, improving software quality, and ensuring that all team members share testing responsibilities to deliver better results.
Detailed
In Agile frameworks, such as Scrum, testing is an integral component of each iteration, diverging from the traditional model where testing occurred post-development. This shift towards collaborative testing promotes a culture where QA professionals work closely with developers, leading to a more proactive approach in identifying and addressing potential issues. The key principles—testing early and continuously, leveraging automation, and emphasizing shared responsibilities—are pivotal for successful Agile projects.
Exploratory testing, as part of the testing strategy, becomes particularly valuable, allowing testers to identify edge cases and usability issues that scripted tests may overlook. This, combined with rigorous documentation and automated testing processes, enhances overall software quality and customer satisfaction, reinforcing the mantra of 'testing as a mindset' in Agile.
Audio Book
Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.
Uncovering Edge Cases
Chapter 1 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
Exploratory testing is simultaneous learning, test design, and execution, where testers explore the application without predefined scripts.
Detailed Explanation
Exploratory testing is a unique approach in which testers engage with the application actively rather than following a strict set of predefined testing scripts. This means they are learning about the application and testing it simultaneously. This kind of testing is valuable because it allows testers to use their creativity and intuition to find unexpected issues that might not be covered by traditional scripted tests.
Examples & Analogies
Think of exploratory testing like a child exploring a new playground. Instead of sticking to a specific route, the child runs around, tries all the slides, swings, and sees what works and what doesn’t. Similarly, testers can discover how users might interact with an application in ways that the original creators didn’t anticipate.
Value for Early Builds and UI-Rich Applications
Chapter 2 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
Ideal for early-stage builds and UI-rich applications.
Detailed Explanation
Exploratory testing shines particularly in early-stage applications where many features are still being developed, and in applications with rich user interfaces (UIs). In early builds, not all features are fully implemented; therefore, exploratory testing allows testers to evaluate the existing components to ensure they work together effectively. Moreover, for applications with complex UIs, exploratory testing helps in identifying usability issues that scripted tests might miss, such as confusing layouts or unexpected navigation paths.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine updating a recipe for a favorite dish. Initially, you might just follow the recipe closely, but as you become familiar with the dish, you might start experimenting with ingredients and cooking times to see how the flavors change. Similar to this, exploratory testing allows testers to experiment with the application to understand its strengths and weaknesses before the final version is ready.
Finding Usability Issues and Minor Glitches
Chapter 3 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
Helps find usability issues, confusing workflows, and minor glitches.
Detailed Explanation
Usability issues often arise when users find it difficult to navigate or interact with an application as intended. Exploratory testing empowers testers to interact with an application as end-users would, which can reveal small glitches—like buttons not responding or features being difficult to access—that might not show up in automated tests. Addressing these issues during the testing phase ensures a smoother user experience once the application is launched.
Examples & Analogies
Consider a new phone app designed for ordering food. If a tester simply follows steps in a strict script, they might not notice that the 'order' button is hard to find or that the checkout process seems complicated. However, by using the app like a real customer, they can identify these usability glitches and provide feedback on how to improve the user interface.
QA Strategy for Exploratory Testing
Chapter 4 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
Use charter-based sessions (e.g., 'Explore cart checkout flow for invalid inputs')
Detailed Explanation
Charter-based exploratory testing involves setting specific goals or 'charters' for a testing session. For instance, a charter might be to explore how the application behaves when users enter invalid data during checkout. This approach helps testers focus their efforts while still allowing for creative exploration of the application. It combines the benefits of structure and spontaneity, making exploratory testing both efficient and effective.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine you're on a treasure hunt with a map that points to certain areas where you might find clues. Instead of aimlessly searching everywhere, you focus on those areas, but once you get there, you can still look around broadly for other hidden treasures. In the same way, charter-based exploratory testing leads testers to specific functionalities while encouraging them to explore the surrounding context.
Combining Exploratory Testing with Other Approaches
Chapter 5 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
Combine with automated and scripted testing.
Detailed Explanation
Exploratory testing should not be seen as a replacement for automated or scripted tests but rather as a valuable complement to them. Automated tests handle repetitive and straightforward scenarios efficiently, while exploratory testing can find unique bugs that automated scripts might overlook. By integrating both approaches, teams can achieve comprehensive test coverage and enhance overall product quality.
Examples & Analogies
Think of it like cooking: you might use a slow cooker for consistent results with certain dishes but also decide to grill some vegetables for a unique flavor. Similarly, you use automated tests for regular checks and add exploratory testing to enhance the richness of the testing suite, improving your application's quality.
Key Concepts
-
Testing Early: Essential for detecting bugs sooner and reducing costs.
-
Collaboration: Continuous engagement between QA and developers enhances software quality.
-
Automation: Speeds up testing processes and ensures rapid feedback.
-
Exploratory Testing: Allows discovery of issues that could be missed by scripted tests.
-
Continuous Improvement: Ongoing QA feedback fosters better practices in future iterations.
Examples & Applications
During sprint planning, a QA clarifies acceptance criteria with developers to ensure all user stories are testable.
In a retrospective, QA suggests adopting more automated tests based on prior experiences with manual testing struggles.
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Rhymes
Early tests catch the worst mess, in Agile, it’s a team’s success!
Stories
Imagine a race where every sprint counts. QA and devs are like partners running together, ensuring no potholes derail their progress—it’s teamwork at its finest!
Memory Tools
Remember 'A-TEST' for QA focus: Automation, Testing early, Exploratory, Shared responsibilities, Team collaboration.
Acronyms
FAST
Find
Analyze
Solve
Test — key steps in the Agile testing process.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Agile
A project management methodology focusing on iterative development, collaboration, and flexibility.
- QA (Quality Assurance)
The practice of ensuring that a product meets certain quality standards before it is released.
- Exploratory Testing
An informal testing process where testers explore the software with minimal predefined test cases.
- Sprint Review
A meeting at the end of a sprint to demonstrate the work done and gather feedback.
- Defect
An error or flaw in the software that causes it to behave incorrectly.
Reference links
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.