Most people are only familiar with the last stages of testing. But testing occurs throughout the development process for nearly every type of software, including websites, apps and all of your document creation and processing systems.
Testing Process: First Up Unit Testing
The first test typically performed is unit testing. This breaks done lines of code to verify that each line is working properly. If the code doesn’t function correctly, then the program probably won’t perform as it should. You can’t wait until the end to perform this type of testing: It’s done as the program is being built. It’s basically the foundation for everything else.
Next, developers and programmers need to verify that each line of code operates and seamlessly integrates with other lines of code. This determines whether the code will act as a single entity.
Black Box/System Testing
Similar to ensuring that the code works as a whole, black box or system testing makes certain that individual software components function as a single unit. This is often referred to as a minimally viable product. The program may work, but it doesn’t have all the features, and there may still be a few bugs.
If bugs or errors are discovered, programmers will have to perform regression testing to find and remove them. Code may need to be eliminated or changed.
At this point, the product is nearly ready to go, but it still needs final testing. Alpha testing involves the internal team testing on their own servers. Beta testing can involve using consumers or outside test firms who perform everything from security to website to load/performance testing. This stage is very important since it verifies that the product is performing as nearly perfectly as it can.
If you need assistance with testing, iBeta provides on-demand services with fast ramp-up times. Contact us to learn more.