Agile Testing - Part 1

What is Agile Testing?

Agile as name suggest implies something to perform very quickly. Hence Agile testing refer to validate the requirements as soon as available. Once the build is out, testing is expected to get started and report the bugs quickly if found any. Testers role not only limited to just being audience but to provide the thoughts on the client requirements. Emphasis has to be laid down on the quality of the deliverable in spite of short time frame which will further help in reducing the cost of development and your feedbacks will be implemented in the code which will avoid the defects coming from the end user.

Advantages offered by Agile Methodology:

The very first advantage that the company got to see with the Agile Methodology is the saving of time and money. There is less documentation required though documents help to a great deal in verifying and validating the requirements but considering the time frame of the project, this approach leads to focus more on the application rather than documenting the things. Since it is iterative in its form, it tends to have a regular feedback from the end user so that the same can be implemented as soon as possible. And because all phases of SDLC need to be completed very quickly, there is a transparency to each individual working on the project with the status of each phase. 

Another advantage that Agile Methodology offers to other approaches available is that in case there is any Change request or enhancements come in between any phase, it can be implemented without any budget constraint though there needs to be some adjustment in the already allotted time frame which will not be a difficult task for the projects following Agile tactics.

Daily meetings and discussions for the project following Agile approach can help to determine the issues well in advance and work on it accordingly. Quick coding and Testing makes the management aware of the gaps existing in either requirements or technology used and can try to find the workaround for the same.

Hence, with the quicker development, testing and constant feedbacks from the user, the Agile methodology becomes the appropriate approach for the projects to be delivered in a short span of time.

Well-known agile software development methods include:

• Agile Modeling
• Agile Unified Process (AUP)
• Crystal Clear
• Crystal Methods
• Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM)
• Extreme Programming (XP)
• Feature Driven Development (FDD)
• GSD
•  Kanban (development)
• Lean software development
• Scrum
• Velocity tracking