As a software tester, I have ensured that software products and applications function and perform as expected. My team has been at the forefront of using the latest tools and platforms to enable a minimal defect product for the market release. We are proud to have exceeded industry standards in terms of defect escape ratios.
The health scare COVID has interrupted almost all industries and processes, but society is resilient, never gives up, and life (and business) must go on. We are up to the task and giving our best in adapting to the testing times and situations.
Testing times for a software tester
While we have leveraged existing resources and technology to run umpteen tests in the past, the current pandemic that has enveloped the world has put us in unchartered territory. While our clients understand the gravity of the situation, they also need to keep their business running. We now work from home and continue testing products just like before without interruption. There have been challenges, but we have ensured business continuity to protect our client from any adverse impact of this disruption. From our testers struggling to adapt to the new world order, I would like to share how we sailed through these trying times. It might help you do what you do best, test!
Ensure access, security/integrity
As testers, we work in different environments such as on-prem, on the cloud, or the client-side cloud environment. Working from a secure office environment, we have access to all environments. It is not the same anymore, as we now use public networks. The best and most secure way to access governed environments is to connect via a VPN to access different environments securely. VPN’s offer secure, pre-engineered access and provide additional levels of bandwidth and control.
Use cloud-devices for compatibility tests
Testing applications for different platforms and devices is simpler at the workplace as we have ready access to company-owned devices (some of which are expensive). It’s not the same when working from home. Besides, these devices cannot be a shared resource. The unavailability of devices cannot act as a blockade. I am leveraging the cloud using resources such as SauceLab, Devicefarm alongside options such as simulators and emulators configured on my system.
Augment access speed for reliable testing
One concern working from home is the need for a dependable, high-speed internet connection. However, I signed up with a service provider offering verified speed. I buttressed my connectivity by arranging for an alternate internet connection from a different service provider with similar bandwidth capability. I made a distinction between these networks as network1 and network2, ensuring that the networks get utilized for the designated purpose, and bandwidth issues avoided.
Coordinate test plans with collaboration utilities
In the initial days of the work-from-home arrangement, I found it difficult to coordinate with the team and there were productivity concerns. This is when we decided to chalk a schedule to address coordination issues. We decided to better utilize the messenger tools provided to us for seamless communication. As a first step towards making optimal use of these messenger tools we drew guidelines on the do’s and don’ts to optimally use our time. This article penned by a senior colleague worked as a handy reference on using one such communication tool.
The future looks uncertain with Covid’s impact deepening by the day. In these times when everything looks uncertain we as responsible testers can play our role in ensuring that we are available to our partners and help products and apps reach their respective audience.
Author
