TSG Training

Day: 2 August 2021

  • The Vital Role Of Software Testing In All Areas Of Business Is Significantly Undervalued

    Software testing is one of the most undervalued areas of development, and it has a significant impact on businesses of all sizes and across all industries. Whether you are wondering why you need to invest in software testing or you are a software tester yourself, understanding the value behind the role is critical.
    Software development projects come in all shapes and sizes, but no matter the scope, proper testing is essential. Software testing can save your business money, improve security and ensure ultimate customer satisfaction. Today, we are taking an in-depth look at the vital role of software testing and why it is so undervalued.

    Why Should Developers Be Paid To Test Their Work?

    A lot of business owners who do not understand the ins and outs of software development ask this question. Many don’t understand the need to allocate a software testing budget because they are already paying for the development.
    The truth is, testing an application is incredibly time-consuming and complex. Because of this, appropriate time, care, and attention need to be taken, and it is only possible with an appropriate budget.
    A great example is an eCommerce platform, which is a very complicated application. There are millions of gigabytes of data, lines of coding and various integration points that are all intertwined. With so many moving parts, it is easy for something to go wrong.
    Customers will use eCommerce solutions across many different browsers and devices, so making sure it works perfectly on all of these is so important. There are unlimited scenarios for software testers to identify and check, and just one failure in an eCommerce site could be very costly to a business.
    Ultimately, software testing is not a one-size-fits-all process. There are various areas to consider, and each brings its own value to a project. It is also important to remember that software testing is not a fixed entity because you can do as much or as little as you want. The more software testing you do, the less risk of failure in the application.
    To properly understand the value that software testers bring to a business, we are looking at the various types of testing:

    Smoke Testing

    Smoke testing is one of the most common types of software testing. It uses a pragmatic set of tests that cover the complete user journey and all of the functions across the application. Developers should always conduct smoke testing before handing over a project, as they can highlight key areas for concern or improvements.

    Unit Testing

    This type of software testing involves small ‘units’ of the code. It tests each unit to make sure that they are working as expected. For example, if a customer completes a form on a website, the data should be securely saved into a database.
    Unit testing will test this standalone functionality of this specific element. Because of the nature of unit testing, software testers will generally only use it for key areas of an application, such as the core functionality.

    Regression Testing

    Developing a piece of software is an ongoing task, and regression testing is a critical part of this evolving development. Regression testing checks if changing one aspect of an application causes issues with another function. For example, changing the forms used during a checkout process could also impact contact forms.
    Regression issues are extremely common, so this type of testing is vital for guaranteeing a good user experience.

    User Acceptance Testing

    Also known as UAT, User Acceptance Testing is one of the most essential parts of the testing process. Usually, it is the last phase before an application can go live.
    During UAT, the developer hands over testing to the client so they can complete full end-to-end testing. It involves creating test cases for a manual tester to run through, and then they can either pass or fail each case individually.
    UAT testing is probably the most time consuming of all the software testing types because it involves testing all functions. It isn’t uncommon to have more than 500 test cases for an application.
    Despite its importance, UAT is probably the most underrated testing process of them all. When timelines become tight, it is the area that usually suffers the most, but that can lead to serious functionality issues down the line.

    User Interface Testing

    User Interface (UI) testing is another extremely time-consuming part of a software testers role. This is the part that tests an application across all kinds of devices, browsers and operating systems. Because there are so many possible combinations of systems, testing them all is impossible.
    UI testing uses automated processes to test a vast number of variations very quickly. This kind of automated testing can undertake a pre-scripted journey for your application and check if everything works as expected with various setups.

    Performance Testing

    This kind of software testing determines the number of users, traffic, requests and orders an application can handle. It involves load testing the production environment so that you can realistically see the performance capacities.
    In order to accurately complete performance testing, it is critical that you mimic real-life user behaviours. Because real users can be fairly unpredictable, this is not an easy task. Carrying out accurate performance testing is crucial for ensuring the application doesn’t become overloaded and fail.

    Security Testing

    Security testing is an ongoing process for all websites and applications and should generally be completed twice a year. It ensures a website is secure and safe and can protect a business from potentially harmful cyberattacks. With cybercrime becoming increasingly prevalent, security testing is more important than ever before.
    It is clear to see that software testing covers a vast range of areas. From making sure your security is up to date and working properly to checking functionality across a range of devices. Appropriately testing your software is one of the most critical parts of the development process and certainly not one that should be undervalued. To find out more about software testing, discover our range of training courses online now.

  • Survey Finds Biggest DevOps Obstacles Are Organisational

    Over the last 15 years, DevOps has developed from an initial idea to an entire movement. It works to break down the siloes between operations and development and results in faster, more efficient software delivery.
    Because of the nature of DevOps, applications are completed quicker and often with improved reliability. This methodology is now used across thousands of organisations and so is becoming more commonplace every single day.
    Despite its popularity, DevOps is not without its drawbacks, and a recent survey has revealed that the biggest obstacles for DevOps are organisational as opposed to technology-related.

    What Are The Biggest Obstacles For DevOps?

    Test automation platform provider, Mabl recently surveyed 600 IT professionals to understand the barriers to adopting DevOps practices.
    Those surveyed were quality assurance and software development professionals from all across the globe. Because of their in-depth knowledge and experience with DevOps, they were the best audience to provide crucial insights into the practices.
    Results from the survey revealed that non-technological issues were the key inhibitor for DevOps. 82% agreed that the main obstacles for DevOps practices are organisational as opposed to technological.
    Not only that, but just 11% of those that completed the survey stated their company has fully implemented DevOps. 24% said that they were working towards achieving fully implemented DevOps practices and were most of the way there already.
    It is interesting to see that the reasons behind this slow adoption of DevOps is mainly because of organisational constraints. Slow processes and speed of adaption was the main barrier for 29% of respondents, while budget and funding were chosen by 21%.
    Just 18% of those who completed the survey said that technology limitations were an issue for implementing DevOps practices.

    The Reality Of DevOps Practices

    The survey unveiled that almost half of people (46%) are able to implement continuous integration. 36% said they have implemented continuous delivery. When it comes to continuous deployment, more than a quarter of people (27%) said they had achieved this.
    Despite this, just one-third of those surveyed revealed that they deploy new codes at least once a week, and almost half deploy these less than once a month. 15% of development teams deploy new codes once a day or more. A similar number (16%) deploy codes once a quarter.
    When it comes to software testing, 42% of people automated their user interface (UI) and functional testing. Because of this, these are the most commonly automated types of testing.
    Regression testing came in next, with 41% choosing to automate this process, followed by 35% automating integration testing.

    The Most Popular DevOps Tools

    When asked about testing tools, Selenium was the most widely used as 41% chose this option. Cypress was in a very distant second place at 14%. Testing application programming interfaces or APIs were also included in the survey.
    The most popular was Postman, compared with SoapUI, which was chosen by 21% of people. Homegrown tools made up 17% of APIs used. GitHub is the most commonly chosen DevOps tool because 34% opted for it. Jenkins was a close second at 33%, and then GitLab at 21%. The least commonplace but still popular tools were Azure Pipelines with 20% and Bitbucket with 19%.

    What These Results Mean For DevOps In The Future

    It is clear to see from these results that a lot of companies are very resistant to change. Some teams have been developing software in the same way for many years, and so change is a real challenge.
    Not only do business leaders and IT professionals require some convincing of the need for change, but this needs to run down to operational teams and individual developers.
    The co-founder of Mabl, Dan Belcher, has said it is obvious that many businesses have a long way to go in order to completely embrace the best practices of DevOps. It has become a question of to what degree will they adopt these practices as opposed to if they ever will.
    All kinds of organisations across all industries are dependent on applications and software. Because this is the backbone of almost all business processes these days, the focus on timely delivery and quality products will only increase. Belcher noted that the stakes in the delivery of software have never been higher, so now is the time to get it right.
    Adopting DevOps is likely to come down to competitive pressure forcing the issue on hesitant businesses. Any companies which don’t act fast to keep up with demands will start seeing their rivals pull ahead.
    The teams which adopt DevOps practices are likely to deliver better experiences with their software, which will create a business advantage. Now is the time for companies to adapt to DevOps or risk becoming irrelevant compared to the competition.
    In order to properly adopt DevOps and use it effectively within an organisation, your entire team needs to have a solid understanding of the practice. At TSG Training, we offer a range of DevOps training courses so your team can get up to speed with processes and ideas. Some of our most popular online DevOps training courses include:

    • SAFe DevOps Certification: This two-day course offers a deep dive into the world of DevOps and its competencies. After completing this course, you will have a good understanding of DevOps and how to improve your time to market.
    • DevOps Foundation Certification Training: For DevOps beginners, this course is the perfect option. It is a complete introduction to the world of DevOps and brings it right back to basics. Learners will see an emphasis on collaboration, communication, integration and automation.

    In addition to our online training courses, we also offer a selection of free webinars and whitepapers. These provide useful insights into DevOps and how your business can use it to the best of its abilities. For more information about DevOps training and how to adopt DevOps for your company, speak with our team of specialists today.
     

  • Seven Ways To Encourage A More Agile Work Culture (And Why You Should)

    It is no secret that we live in a fast-paced world where things change extremely quickly. The technology we use has a massive impact on our lives in both work and leisure. Some of the things we rely on today and take for granted didn’t exist at all a decade ago, so it is clear to see how important keeping up with technology is. This fast-paced society brings both challenges and opportunities with it, which agile working is designed to tackle head-on. Agile methodologies are used across a wide range of industries and bring with them many benefits. Flexibility is one of the most critical parts of an agile work culture. It is essential that you can adapt to meet the evolving demands of your team and business. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this flexibility and adaptability are more important than ever. Many businesses are making changes to work in a more agile fashion, and these seven tips can help.

    Ensure A Safe Environment For Innovation

    Employees will only be able to be truly innovative if they have the confidence to make mistakes without major consequences. An agile business will constantly create new solutions to problems, so having the freedom for creativity is crucial. All the leaders within your business need to create an environment where agile workflows are free to thrive. Agile is all about flexibility and ongoing improvements, so create a culture where your team can innovate and sometimes fail without fear. It is also essential to ensure everyone is learning from these failures and moving on and improving.

    Provide Autonomy And Trust

    In order to promote an agile work culture in your business, you must give your team the autonomy they require. This includes having trust that your employees are going to do their jobs, both remotely and onsite. You will never be able to create an agile culture if your team do not feel like you have trust in their work. Because of so much uncertainty going on at the moment, flexibility is critical. Your teams must be able to work autonomously with confidence in order to create an agile working world.

    Hold Daily Meetings

    In agile methodologies, regular scrum meetings are held to keep a project in check. This is an idea that all businesses, no matter the industry, can adopt. Hold a short daily scrum meeting every morning to kickstart the day. During this meeting, talk freely about the specifics of a project, including any challenges or roadblocks that individuals might be facing. Scheduling a time for this meeting every day can help teams with flexible work schedules stay in touch and up to date.

    Reward Productivity With Time Off

    Agile culture is all about flexibility and freedom, so providing this to your teams is critical. With the right kind of structure in place, workforces can remain productive and flexible. Because of the pandemic, this freedom and adaptability are more important than ever before. Reward productive employees with paid time off, as long as all their duties and goals are being met. This kind of recognition and trust will further encourage productivity and improve employee satisfaction.

    Promote A Healthy Work-Life Balance

    A healthy balance between work and play can improve productivity, staff happiness and overall results for your team. As a leader, you need to take some responsibility for your teams, particularly those that work remotely. Working from home can make this balance a challenge, so it is your job to do everything you can to encourage it. Consider asking teams to schedule in some downtime and pay attention to those that seem to be overworking. If anyone in your team seems to be struggling with separating work and life, then do what you can to encourage a healthier balance.

    Hold Cross-Departmental Meetings

    Having team members who don’t usually work together attending the same meetings will encourage a more diverse workplace. This is so important in an agile work culture because it helps everyone stay in touch and involved with all business areas. Get some new voices at the table and encourage your teams to speak freely to one another about their current challenges. You might find some talent that wasn’t initially apparent, and it helps to avoid silos in the workplace. Not only that, but this cross-departmental communication will break down the hierarchy because everyone is on the same page.

    Measure Results Instead Of Hours

    Many businesses focus so heavily on their employees’ hours that they fail to see the crucial results. Shift your focus from the number of hours worked to the results they are achieving and their overall productivity. Because most individuals respond more positively to this approach, it is a great way to encourage an agile work culture. The only time this is challenging is when fixed office hours are required. If your teams don’t need to be working set hours, then give them the control and flexibility to manage their own schedule. Ultimately, promoting an agile work culture among your team is a significant change from traditional approaches. You need to have the whole organisation on the same page, and everyone in the business must take ownership of their own way of working. The key driver behind agile methodologies is flexibility, so make sure that is engrained into all members of your team. At TSG Training, we offer various courses to help you and your team learn all about agile methods. We have courses for all levels and abilities, so whether you are already clued up on agile or new to an agile environment. Contact our team today to find out more and discuss your agile learning requirements.