Stages of Software Testing

Whilst I hate all the stages of software testing in a project, I do feel a little sorry for testers. As the software testing phase comes at the end of the project they always get the most amounts of pressure and aggravation from project management stakeholders who perceive them as nothing more than a team who raise unnecessary problems stopping the project from launching. You can see why project managers are rarely fans of the test team!

So in emerging methodologies of software development such as Agile Methodology and RAD software development, the stages of software testing starts as soon as the first code is written. Hence it is known as a test-driven software development environment. The first test that is performed is the unit test. When tested, the code will fail in most of the tests as is expected. However, as the code than gets integrated to form a sub-component and then component of the software. Eventually this code passes more and more tests of the test suite. The tests are done at the various stages of software testing which are:

1.0 Unit Testing

The smallest unit of the software i.e. the code is tested at the first stage of testing. The test is always performed by the developers to check the design of the unit. It also gives them to find any problems early enough so that they can be rectified quickly.

2.0 Integration Testing

This done to check for any kind of defect in the integration and interfaces of the software components within the software development itself. If there is any kind of defect in the design of the software, it should get exposed at this stage.

3.0 System Testing

System testing helps in confirming that the software developed is has met all the business requirements documentation specified by the user. It is basically when the entirety of the software development is tested as a whole and will usually have not only the involvement of the test team, but also a major role for a business analyst in re-checking the project management requirements specified.

4.0 System Integration Testing

This ensures that the system works properly when it is integrated with external systems which are mentioned in the software requirements specification. This is also the stage when things go horribly wrong because getting software systems to correctly “talk” to each other is easier said than done.

5.0 User Acceptance Testing

The simulation or actual functioning of the software is tested either by independent testers or by potential customers. This is to check that will actually fulfill the functions required in the real world.

6.0 Customer or Operational Acceptance Testing

Once all the above tests are done, either the customer or operations will conduct acceptance testing to check the overall functioning and reliability of the software before accepting it.

Stages of Software Testing - Tip

Software testing is a key part of any project as well as of the process of software development. It may look easy on paper, but you would assume this to be reality, at your peril unless you are fantastic at managing project teams and don't mind if your project budget being blown apart.

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