Even the best software developers are not immune to having bugs in their code. Therefore, software testing is a critical aspect of the software development life cycle.

Testing Comes with the Territory

Before a single line of code is written for a new application, the process of software testing should be included in the development plan. The extent to which software quality assurance testing is performed depends on factors such as the size and complexity of the application and the amount of resources available.

There is a wide array of tests and techniques available for software quality assurance. Areas of software testing that warrant evaluation and measurement include:

• Overall functionality, including reliability, integrity and ease-of-use.
• Engineering quality, including programming language efficiency and structure.
• The program’s flexibility and adaptability for future releases.

Security is also a critical aspect within most software programs and therefore receives a high degree of scrutiny.

Entities that might not have the resources to perform comprehensive software quality assurance themselves will often enlist the services of software testing companies. Software testing outsourcing is a popular option. Among the advantages are cost effectiveness, time savings and having Quality Assurance (QA) performed by experienced software testers who love to test.

After testing is considered complete, software is frequently sent to end users before its official release to "iron out" any additional bugs or glitches. This is called “beta testing” or “user acceptance testing” (UAT). But remember, don’t let your end-users become your testers by finding bugs after the release for your application.

While no software application is guaranteed 100% bug-free, the multiple layers of analysis and testing that it is subjected to should ensure a high level of reliability and overall operability.

Let me know what you think,

Khanh-Thy Gonzales

Lighthouse Technologies, Inc.

Software Testing | Vendor Quality Management | Oracle ERP (E-Business Suite)