7 Common Software Testing Problems: How to Avoid Them

Did you know that 86% of organizations today use the agile model for software testing? And 38% of organizations use the DevOps method? These methods have become critical to delivering software products that users will love. But in order to avoid software testing problems, the testers are responsible for rapid and thorough testing. Moreover, the constant advancement in testing tools and technologies keeps the process evolving, bringing new challenges.

However, it is crucial to deal with these software challenges in the right way to roll out quality products and avoid costly mistakes. Even though the role of software testers is to identify errors, they themselves are not immune to errors. So let’s look at seven common software testing problems faced today. And for each testing problem, the solutions are also examined for preventing or dealing with them.

1. Incomplete or absence of adequate documentation

Modern software development approaches (such as Agile or DevOps) emphasize rapid development, continuous feedback, and fast iterations. Thus, testers or developers often tend to focus less on documentation. But absent, incomplete or superficial documentation can lead to insufficient testing, communication problems, scheduling problems, etc.

Solution: Adequate documentation (such as test strategy, test plan, etc.) serves as the baseline for QA or testers throughout the SDLC and helps create the most relevant tests. Here are some points to keep in mind while drafting testing documentation:

• Clearly define what software quality means for your project and testing objectives
• Use simple metrics to describe what is expected and comprehensive requirements analysis
• Answer the questions of why, what, how, and when are you testing
• Define what will not be tested
• Include project-specific details
• Ensure all stakeholders understand the documentation before execution begins

2. Spending too much time building test tools instead of testing

Creating testing tools is excellent rather than over-relying on COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) testing tools and manual testing. However, it can be a problem when you don’t have the time, and your team spends too much time building test tools. If they are not a part of your original test plan, they may distract your efforts from completing the project.

Solution: If creating testing tools is not adding any remarkable value to your project, it is crucial to bring your team back on track. You can put the tools-building on hold, reschedule it, prepare a separate plan for it.

3. Not automating enough

If your team is spending too much time running test cases and still the tests are executed slowly, there are chances you have not automated enough tests. Moreover, some tests are expensive to conduct manually, and we cannot stress enough the benefits of automation testing today.

Solution: Here’s what you can do:

• Evaluate all tests that can be automated
• Automate as much as possible
• Deploy the right automated testing tools
• Select the right automation framework and consider continuous testing
• Introduce automatic smoke tests
• Do not assume that the product will not evolve, so your test automation system doesn’t become obsolete
• Remember that test automation serves best when combined with appropriate levels of manual testing

4. Testing and development teams do not collaborate well

Communication issues are most common in software development lifecycles. They happen due to numerous circumstances such as differences in shifts, different time zones, inadequate documentation, and more. In addition, modern development methods require enhanced collaboration between all the teams involved, particularly the development and testing teams. If the development team cannot understand the bugs report or issues, they cannot fix them.

Solution: Even complex testing projects can be successfully run with solid communication and collaboration, so:

• Invest in modern collaboration tools (use screenshots, video records, etc.
• Have the developers and testers use the same testing tools
• Schedule regular discussions to maintain transparency and clarity of goals
• Embed the development team in QA
• Consider pairs testing

5. Selecting the right tests

Most modern applications are too complex to test in every possible way or through all possible paths. Additionally, there might be budget or time constraints, so you will not be able to conduct all the possible or desired tests. But you would not want to miss testing a critical part of your application. Thus, choosing the right tests is crucial for your project.

Solution: Here’s how you can ensure you pick right from numerous types of software testing:

• Ensure not to agree to test everything
• Evaluate and identify the critical aspects of the software
• Plan and prioritize tests to ensure critical areas are tested thoroughly and in time
• Create a list of prioritized requirements and tests
• Start testing as early as possible in the SDLC

6. Test process issues: When testing and engineering processes aren’t integrated enough

Testing is an integral part of software development, but testing and engineering processes are often not correctly or adequately integrated. For instance, some projects may require more integration than others. But many organizations develop a testing approach and stick to it in all projects. Unfortunately, it can also lead to problematic test evaluations, maintenance, etc.

Solution: Keep the below points in mind to avoid the problem stated above:

• Initiate testing on components or subsystems only after they are mature to be tested on all parameters
• Tailor the testing process as per the project needs
• Ensure the testing and development team coordinates well
• Include QA early in the cycle and when choosing new components

7. Testing doesn’t handle requirement changes well

Requirement changes are inevitable today due to the dynamic needs of users. Moreover, modern development methods focus on implementing user feedback quickly. Thus, requirements-specification changes are a huge challenge to testers. The traceability of change in requirements is problematic, and the test method might not detect the consequences of requirement changes that are vital to test specifications.

Solution: To handle requirement changes efficiently:

• Clearly describe the changes in required product specifications
• Employ change-management processes
• Specify methods to verify and trace gaps between requirements changes, their testing, and results
• Locate and update tests regularly to match the new requirements

Conclusion

Today, software applications are becoming increasingly complex, and testing processes constantly evolve. Thus, the software testing process is bound to encounter challenges. But top-notch test management can help avoid or deal with these challenges.

The above solutions will help your testing and QA teams address the critical problems in software testing and streamline the development process. After all, it is essential to deliver robust solutions on time.