Left Shift QA testing (SDET)
Left Shift QA Testing (SDET)
Definition:
Left shift QA testing, also known as shift-left testing or SDET (software development engineer in test), is a software testing approach in which QA engineers are involved in the software development process from the early stages, rather than waiting until the end of the development cycle. This allows QA engineers to identify and fix defects earlier in the development process, which can save time and money.
Benefits:
- Earlier defect detection: By involving QA engineers early in the development process, defects can be identified and fixed before they are propagated to later stages of the development cycle. This can save time and money, as it is much easier to fix defects early on.
- Improved communication and collaboration: When QA engineers are involved in the development process from the early stages, they can communicate and collaborate more effectively with developers. This can help to ensure that the software is developed according to the requirements and that defects are fixed quickly and efficiently.
- Increased test coverage: By involving QA engineers in the development process, they can help to ensure that all aspects of the software are tested. This can help to improve the overall quality of the software and reduce the risk of defects being released to production.
Examples:
- Agile development: In agile development, QA engineers are typically involved in the sprint planning process and work closely with developers to test and verify new features as they are developed.
- Test-driven development (TDD): In TDD, QA engineers write test cases before the code is written. This helps to ensure that the code is developed according to the requirements and that it meets the needs of the users.
- Behavior-driven development (BDD): In BDD, QA engineers work with developers and product owners to create acceptance criteria for new features. These acceptance criteria are then used to develop test cases and verify that the new features are working as expected.
References:
Tools and Products for Left Shift QA Testing (SDET)
- Jira: Jira is a popular issue tracking and project management tool that can be used to manage and track QA tasks and defects. Jira also has a built-in test management module that can be used to create and manage test cases and test plans. (Jira)
- Zephyr Scale: Zephyr Scale is a test management tool that integrates with Jira and provides additional features for QA teams, such as test case design, execution, and reporting. (Zephyr Scale)
- TestRail: TestRail is a cloud-based test management tool that provides features for test case design, execution, and reporting. TestRail also integrates with a variety of other tools, such as Jira and Jenkins. (TestRail)
- Selenium: Selenium is a popular open-source web testing framework that can be used to automate web browser interactions. Selenium can be used to create automated tests for web applications and to perform cross-browser testing. (Selenium)
- Cypress: Cypress is a modern, end-to-end testing framework for web applications. Cypress is easy to use and can be used to create automated tests for web applications that are fast and reliable. (Cypress)
- Appium: Appium is an open-source mobile testing framework that can be used to automate tests for iOS and Android applications. Appium can be used to create automated tests for mobile applications that are reliable and easy to maintain. (Appium)
Resources:
Related Terms to Left Shift QA Testing (SDET)
- Agile testing: Agile testing is a software testing approach that is designed to be flexible and adaptable to the changing needs of agile development teams. Agile testing involves QA engineers working closely with developers to test and verify new features as they are developed.
- DevOps: DevOps is a set of practices and tools that emphasize collaboration and communication between software development and operations teams. DevOps aims to improve the speed and quality of software delivery by breaking down silos between development and operations teams.
- Test-driven development (TDD): TDD is a software development approach in which QA engineers write test cases before the code is written. This helps to ensure that the code is developed according to the requirements and that it meets the needs of the users.
- Behavior-driven development (BDD): BDD is a software development approach in which QA engineers work with developers and product owners to create acceptance criteria for new features. These acceptance criteria are then used to develop test cases and verify that the new features are working as expected.
- Continuous testing: Continuous testing is a software testing approach in which QA engineers test software continuously throughout the development lifecycle. This helps to ensure that defects are identified and fixed early, before they are propagated to later stages of the development cycle.
- Shift-right testing: Shift-right testing is a software testing approach in which QA engineers focus on testing the software in production. This can involve performance testing, security testing, and user acceptance testing.
Additional Resources:
Prerequisites
Prerequisites for Left Shift QA Testing (SDET)
- Agile development process: Left shift QA testing is most effective when used in conjunction with an agile development process. This is because agile development involves frequent iterations and releases, which allows QA engineers to test and verify new features early and often.
- Cross-functional team: Left shift QA testing requires a cross-functional team of developers, QA engineers, and product owners who are all committed to working together to deliver high-quality software.
- Test automation framework: A test automation framework is essential for left shift QA testing, as it allows QA engineers to automate the execution of test cases and to quickly identify and fix defects.
- Continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD) pipelines: CI/CD pipelines are used to automate the building, testing, and deployment of software. This allows QA engineers to test new features as soon as they are developed and to quickly identify and fix defects before they are propagated to later stages of the development cycle.
- Test management tool: A test management tool can be used to manage and track QA tasks and defects, and to create and manage test cases and test plans.
Additional Resources:
What’s next?
After Left Shift QA Testing (SDET)
After left shift QA testing, the next steps typically involve deploying the software to production and monitoring its performance and usage. This may also involve conducting additional testing, such as performance testing, security testing, and user acceptance testing.
Deployment:
- The software is deployed to production, either manually or through an automated deployment pipeline.
- QA engineers may be involved in the deployment process to ensure that the software is deployed correctly and that there are no issues.
Monitoring:
- The software is monitored to ensure that it is performing as expected and that there are no errors or outages.
- QA engineers may be involved in the monitoring process to identify and resolve any issues that arise.
Additional Testing:
- Additional testing may be conducted, such as performance testing, security testing, and user acceptance testing.
- This testing is typically conducted to ensure that the software meets the non-functional requirements and that it is accepted by the users.
Continuous Improvement:
- The software is continuously monitored and improved.
- QA engineers may be involved in the continuous improvement process to identify areas where the software can be improved and to develop and implement improvements.
Additional Resources: