Blog Archives - Testinium

CrowdStrike Chaos: A Wake-Up Call for Software Quality

Alper MERMER — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 18:56:04 +0000

I’m sure by this time, all of you are at least aware of the recent CrowdStrike issue on Microsoft Windows devices, which brought a significant part of our software world to a standstill. This incident not only highlighted vulnerabilities within critical update mechanisms but also underscored the importance of robust software quality processes.

Investigating the detailed report found here, let’s briefly dive into what happened and then reflect on how we can leverage these learnings to enhance our own practices. By examining the causes and consequences of this event, we can explore key strategies to fortify our systems against similar disruptions in the future.

What Happened?
Preliminary Post Incident Review: Configuration Update Impacting Falcon Sensor and Windows OS

Incident Overview CrowdStrike released a content configuration update on July 19, 2024, for the Windows sensor aimed at gathering telemetry on new threat techniques. This update, however, led to a system crash (Blue Screen of Death – BSOD) for Windows hosts running sensor version 7.11 and above, active during a specified timeframe. The issue was resolved by reverting the update shortly thereafter.

Key Details

Date & Time: July 19, 2024, 04:09 – 05:27 UTC
Affected Systems: Windows hosts running sensor version 7.11+ (Mac and Linux hosts were unaffected)
Resolution: Update reverted at 05:27 UTC

Root Cause The problem stemmed from a Rapid Response Content update, a type of dynamic update that allows quick adaptation to emerging threats. An undetected error in this update led to the system crash.

Update Delivery Mechanisms

Sensor Content: Long-term capabilities delivered with sensor releases, including on-sensor AI and machine learning models. These updates undergo extensive testing.
Rapid Response Content: Behavioral pattern-matching updates delivered dynamically. These updates include Template Instances, which configure the sensor to detect specific behaviors.

Testing and Deployment Process

Sensor Content: Includes thorough automated and manual testing, staged rollout, and customer-controlled deployment.
Rapid Response Content: Deployed through Channel Files, interpreted by the sensor’s Content Interpreter and Detection Engine. While newly released Template Types are stress tested, an error in the Content Validator allowed problematic content to pass undetected.

Specifics of the Incident

Trigger: Deployment of two new IPC (InterProcessCommunication) Template Instances on July 19, 2024. A bug in the Content Validator allowed one of these instances with problematic content data to pass validation.
Effect: Problematic content caused an out-of-bounds memory read, leading to an unhandled exception and subsequent system crash.

Preventative Measures

To prevent similar incidents, CrowdStrike will:

Enhance Testing: Introduce more comprehensive testing methods, including stress testing, fuzzing, and fault injection.
Improve Content Validator: Add checks to prevent problematic content from being deployed.
Strengthen Error Handling: Enhance the Content Interpreter’s ability to handle exceptions.
Deployment Strategy: Implement staggered deployments for Rapid Response Content, starting with canary deployments and collecting feedback before broader rollout.
Customer Control: Provide more control over update deployments and detailed release notes.
Third-Party Reviews: Conduct independent security code reviews and quality process evaluations.

Next Steps CrowdStrike will release a full Root Cause Analysis after completing the investigation, detailing the incident and the steps taken to mitigate future risks.

Lessons for the industry
Now, let’s reflect on some possible solutions to these kinds of problems. In light of the recent CrowdStrike incident, it’s crucial for us to consider and implement strategies that will prevent similar disruptions in our own systems. This involves enhancing our software quality processes to catch issues early and enable rapid resolution. By ensuring comprehensive testing and incorporating intuitive insights, we can identify and address potential problems before they impact users. Additionally, maintaining a robust and resilient system infrastructure is key to mitigating risks and ensuring stability. Seeking external evaluations can also provide unbiased assessments and new perspectives, further enhancing our software’s security and reliability. By integrating these solutions, we can significantly improve our software quality and safeguard against future incidents.

Create More Robust Continuous Delivery Pipelines, Including Heavy Alerting on Automated Test Failures

Continuous Delivery (CD) pipelines are the backbone of modern software deployment, allowing for frequent, reliable updates. Investing in robust CD pipelines is critical for maintaining software quality and ensuring seamless user experiences. By incorporating extensive alerting mechanisms for automated test failures, companies can catch and address issues early in the development cycle, reducing the risk of bugs reaching production.

Early Detection and Resolution: Robust CD pipelines with alerting systems ensure that any test failure is immediately flagged, enabling developers to address issues promptly. This reduces the time between defect introduction and resolution, thereby maintaining high code quality.
Automated Rollbacks: Advanced pipelines can automatically roll back changes that cause test failures, preventing problematic code from affecting end-users. This ensures system stability and reliability.
Increased Developer Productivity: With automated alerts, developers can focus on coding rather than manually checking for errors. This leads to higher productivity and more time spent on innovation rather than maintenance.
Improved Collaboration: Integrating alerts into communication tools fosters collaboration among teams, facilitating quick, coordinated responses. When a failure is detected, relevant team members are notified, facilitating a quick, coordinated response.

Invest More in End-to-End Automated Testing

End-to-end (E2E) automated testing is essential for verifying that software works as intended across the entire application flow. Investing in this area ensures comprehensive coverage and higher confidence in the software’s performance and functionality.

Holistic Coverage: E2E testing simulates real user scenarios, ensuring that all components of an application work together seamlessly. This type of testing can uncover integration issues that unit or functional tests might miss.
Scalability: Automated E2E tests can be run frequently and at scale, making it easier to catch regressions and new issues in large and complex applications. This scalability is crucial for supporting continuous integration and delivery practices.
Cost Efficiency: While initial setup for E2E automated testing may be high, it saves costs in the long run by reducing the need for extensive manual testing and quickly identifying issues that could become costly bugs if left unchecked.
Enhanced User Experience: By ensuring that the software behaves correctly across different use cases, E2E testing directly contributes to a better user experience. Satisfied users are more likely to remain loyal and recommend the software to others.

Invest in Testing on Real Devices, at Least a Representative Subset of Devices

Testing on real devices is crucial for understanding how software behaves in real-world conditions. Emulating environments can miss subtle differences that become apparent only on actual hardware.

Real-World Accuracy: Real device testing provides the most accurate representation of how an application will perform in users’ hands, capturing device-specific issues that emulators might miss.
Diverse Coverage: Testing on a representative subset of devices ensures that the software works across different hardware configurations, operating systems, and screen sizes, offering a more inclusive user experience.
Performance Metrics: Real devices provide accurate performance metrics, crucial to identify issues related to speed, responsiveness, and resource usage that can significantly impact user satisfaction.
Reliability and Trust: Demonstrating a commitment to thorough testing on real devices builds trust with users and stakeholders, showing that the company prioritizes delivering high-quality software.

Incorporate Human Testers for Intuitive Contributions

While automation is critical, human testers bring intuition, creativity, and a user-centric perspective that machines cannot replicate. Including humans in the testing process is essential for uncovering nuanced issues and enhancing software quality.

Intuitive Insights: Human testers can identify usability issues, ambiguous user flows, and other intuitive problems that automated tests might overlook. Their feedback is crucial for refining the user experience.
Exploratory Testing: Humans excel at exploratory testing, where they interact with the software in unscripted ways, often uncovering edge cases and unexpected behavior that scripted tests might miss.
Contextual Understanding: Human testers understand the context in which the software will be used, allowing them to test scenarios that reflect real user environments and behaviors.
Adaptive Learning: Unlike automated tests, human testers can adapt their testing strategies based on new information, making them invaluable for identifying and addressing emerging issues dynamically.

Get Third-Party, Independent Help to Ensure Different Sets of Eyes Are Looking at the Problem

Engaging third-party experts for independent reviews brings fresh perspectives and additional expertise, enhancing the overall quality and security of the software.

Unbiased Evaluation: Third-party reviewers provide an unbiased assessment of the software, identifying issues that internal teams might overlook due to familiarity or cognitive biases.
Diverse Expertise: External experts bring diverse skills and knowledge, often including specialized testing techniques and tools that can uncover hidden issues and vulnerabilities.
Enhanced Credibility: Third-party validation adds credibility to the software’s quality and security claims, which can be particularly important for regulatory compliance and building customer trust.
Continuous Improvement: Independent reviews can offer new insights and recommendations for improving internal processes, leading to ongoing enhancements in software development and testing practices.

By investing in these areas, you can significantly enhance your software quality processes, leading to more reliable, secure, and user-friendly applications. This, in turn, prevents catastrophic failures like this one, drives customer satisfaction, loyalty, and ultimately, business success.

When Greed Trumps Quality: Part-2, Post Office

Alper MERMER — Tue, 21 May 2024 22:21:34 +0000

Hello again, everyone. In my previous article, we explored how compromising quality can lead to problems through the Boeing example. In this follow-up piece, just like before, we will talk about a critical incident. This time, our example is quite striking as it involves not just a single event, but a nearly 20-year-long quality issue. After two decades of development, testing, deployment, and user experience processes, the Post Office, one of the UK’s most respected institutions, had to partially acknowledge its mistakes. Consequently, it faced legal battles and had to pay significant compensations to the employees who suffered from these errors.

For those unaware of the incident, here’s a brief summary: Fujitsu made an agreement with the Post Office to implement a software called Horizon. This software, widely used across the post office for daily operations, unfortunately exhibited many quality flaws leading to errors. These errors were either overlooked or not properly resolved when detected. What happened to the postal workers using this software? They ended up dealing with unjust lawsuits and compensations; some lost their lives, jobs, or savings, causing a significant uproar across the country.

Let’s examine what happened in this situation chronologically together.

1999: The Horizon IT system begins rollout in UK Post Office branches.
2000: Alan Bates reports issues with the Horizon system.
2003: Bates’ contract is terminated after disputing liability for account shortfalls in Llandudno, North Wales.
2004: Lee Castleton faces a £25,000 shortfall in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, and is bankrupt after losing a legal battle with the Post Office.
2009: “Computer Weekly” exposes the subpostmasters’ fight for justice; the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance forms.
2010: Seema Misra, a pregnant subpostmaster in West Byfleet, Surrey, is jailed over a £74,000 theft accusation.
2015: Post Office head Paula Vennells denies wrongful convictions to a business committee; the Post Office stops subpostmaster prosecutions.
2017: 555 subpostmasters initiate legal action against the Post Office.
2019: The High Court finds Horizon software flawed, contributing to account shortfalls. The Post Office agrees to a £58 million settlement with the 555 subpostmasters; Vennells is awarded a CBE.
2020: The Post Office does not contest 44 subpostmasters’ appeals.
2021: An inquiry into Horizon’s failings begins; 39 crown court convictions are overturned.
2023: The government offers £600,000 in compensation to each wrongly convicted subpostmaster.

The Post Office scandal, primarily involving the flawed Horizon IT system, showcases significant errors in software development, management, and oversight that led to wrongful convictions and severe personal consequences for many subpostmasters. Here are the key mistakes related to software quality that facilitated this scandal:

Inadequate Testing and Quality Assurance: The Horizon system was rolled out without thorough testing to ensure its reliability and accuracy in processing transactions. This lack of rigorous testing led to undetected bugs and errors that caused discrepancies in accounting data.
Ignoring User Reports and Feedback: Subpostmasters began reporting issues soon after the system’s deployment. However, these reports were largely dismissed by the Post Office and Fujitsu, the system developer. The failure to address and investigate these reports allowed the software problems to persist and escalate.
Deficient Error Handling and System Monitoring: The system lacked robust mechanisms for detecting and correcting errors autonomously. There was also inadequate monitoring to promptly identify and address issues as they arose, which is crucial in a system handling financial transactions.
Lack of Transparency and Accountability: The Post Office did not provide clear and accessible channels for users to report problems, nor was there transparency in how reported issues were handled. This opacity prevented stakeholders from understanding the scope and impact of the problems.
Insufficient User Training and Support: Subpostmasters received inadequate training on the new system. This lack of support, coupled with the system’s complexity, made it difficult for users to identify whether issues were due to user errors or system flaws.
Resistance to External Scrutiny: The Post Office resisted external scrutiny and maintained a defensive stance even when presented with evidence of the system’s failures. This resistance to external review and the initial refusal to halt prosecutions contributed to the perpetuation of the issue.

Sounds incredible, doesn’t it? As you read from top to bottom, it becomes apparent not only how software errors can be overlooked, but also how, when these errors are discovered or the system fails, managers and accountable individuals might engage in various behaviors to protect their own interests.

At this point, it becomes clear that quality is something much greater than just testing. It is crucial for an institution, a project, a team, indeed every product, to be easily traceable, manageable, and most importantly, accountable.

The fundamental goal in all our software processes is to produce not just what is required, but software that generates value and benefits. From this perspective, seeing quality merely as a test, a product output, or the result of a phase is a significant error. Here, enhancing quality and ensuring that not only the final product but also the process achieves the highest level of quality is something professionals like us, the whole team, should aspire to do. From the beginning of the process— the ideation phase, through the analysis and requirements determination stages, to the development process, and afterward, monitoring in the real environment where the product is used—we impact not just our product and the profits we earn, but also the lives of countless people touched by our products. With this responsibility in mind, I wish you numerous successful endeavors as you invest rightly in quality and quality processes, benefiting not only yourselves but also your customers and humanity at large.

Further reading on The Post Office scandal and the timeline of events read more here and here.

When Greed Trumps Quality: Part-1, Boeing

Alper MERMER — Mon, 13 May 2024 14:41:28 +0000

Hello everyone! Today, let’s delve into the pivotal Boeing incident: a cautionary tale where the repercussions of neglecting quality echo loud and clear. This will be a brilliant testament to the quote: “Quality isn’t just a checkbox; it’s the foundation of trust and reputation.”

Boeing has recently dominated discussions, serving as a reminder of the dire consequences when quality takes a back seat, which has been very popularly discussed in recent days.

I contemplated starting this article by exploring the shifts in human psyche over the past century. The rise of social media has led to the relentless pursuit of popularity and wealth. People have shifted to measure their worth based on how much they are liked, and how much wealth they accumulated. These societal dynamics even subtly impact our software quality processes. However I’ve saved these deep topics for another day. Instead, let’s focus on the Boeing saga – an eye-opening narrative that underscores the importance of prioritising quality.

Firstly, for those who are not familiar with the Boeing incident, I would like to briefly summarise it. Boeing is one of the two most important companies that come to mind, especially when it comes to commercial aircraft production. This company, especially with its model named 737 MAX, has experienced significant quality issues. These problems, of course, brought to light the quality issues experienced by other models, and cast a shadow over the company’s reputation. As the company grapples with the fallout, let’s take a brief journey through the timeline of these tumultuous events.

October 29, 2018: Lion Air Flight 610 crashes after takeoff from Jakarta, killing 189.
January 30, 2019: Boeing announces record earnings, surpassing $100 billion.
March 10, 2019: Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashes after takeoff from Addis Ababa, killing 157.
March 11-15, 2019: China and subsequently other countries, including the US, ground the 737 Max.
April 4, 2019: Boeing admits the MCAS contributed to crashes.
July 24, 2019: Boeing reports a $3.7 billion quarterly loss.
December 20-23, 2019: Boeing’s Starliner fails to reach the ISS; CEO Dennis Muilenburg is fired.
January 2020: Boeing halts 737 Max production; internal communications reveal safety doubts.
March 4, 2020: United and JetBlue cut flights as COVID-19 impacts air travel.
May 27, 2020: Boeing announces layoffs of 7,000 workers.
August 28, 2020: FAA briefly grounds eight 787 Dreamliners over manufacturing concerns.
November 18, 2020: FAA ends the 20-month grounding of the 737 Max.
2021-2024: Ongoing issues include tequila bottles found in Air Force One jets, manufacturing shortcuts, and additional FAA audits and fines.

So, what happened? The causes of all these events, the mistakes or missteps that led to them, can be subject to many comments. There are many shortcuts in quality that I could mention, but to briefly summarise, let’s briefly discuss some of the main reasons that both the company itself and other researchers have focused on.

MCAS Design: The Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) was implicated in two fatal crashes due to its reliance on a single sensor and lack of adequate pilot training and disclosure.
Internal Communications: Leaked internal communications revealed that employees had doubts about the 737 Max’s safety, describing inadequate oversight in its design and supervision.
Self-Regulation and Conflict of Interest: The FAA’s decision to delegate airplane certification to Boeing employees represents a significant conflict of interest, undermining quality control. This self-regulation allowed Boeing to potentially prioritise speed over thorough safety checks, compromising the integrity of their quality assurance processes.
Manufacturing Shortcuts: Reports surfaced of non-standard manufacturing processes and other shortcuts that affected quality and safety, leading to additional FAA audits and investigations. Many of these manufacturing issues stemmed from inadequate quality control measures with subcontractors, emphasising speed and delivery over quality and safety.
Regulatory Oversight: The FAA’s delayed response in grounding the 737 Max raised questions about Boeing’s influence over the certification and oversight process.

How ironic for a company whose slogan is ‘if it is not Boeing, I’m not going’! Now, let’s all look together at how this negative example can be related to our actual topic, which is software quality.

When we look at the list, we can see that it consists of topics that are not unfamiliar in the software industry either. Deploying features that are not ready due to the pressure of ‘we must launch immediately, we must deliver immediately’. Not providing adequate training about these features. Treating quality specialists as if they are unnecessary and not including them in the process, and even using absurd slogans frequently found in agile software development such as ‘Everyone should be a developer’ which implies there’s no need for a dedicated tester. There are some very familiar reasons here, such as self-regulation and the belief that the team does not need external oversight or oversight from another role. We could talk about these for hours and make many elaborations, but the message I want to convey is probably clear by now. If we see ourselves as unrivalled, if we believe that any mistake we make will not harm us in any way and will not cause any loss of reputation among our users, then as Gerald Weinberg also says in his books, we don’t need to test. You might choose not to test, you might not care about quality. But like any real-world company with such concerns, you can prevent these kinds of disasters by addressing quality from start to finish with real experts, and by involving quality specialists at every point of software development.

Just because there has never been a fire in your house doesn’t mean you don’t need a smoke detector. The amount you stand to lose when a fire does occur is immense. Like these companies, taking shortcuts, prioritising money and especially greed will harm your prestige and your company’s stance, and will definitely be detrimental to you and your company in the medium and long term. So let’s settle these quality processes together so you, your employees, and your customers can wholeheartedly say, ‘Yes, this product is ours and we are proud of it’. Sending you all my love and respect. See you in my next post.

“Quality isn’t just a checkbox; it’s the foundation of trust and reputation.”

For a much lighthearted touch on things, please watch this.

And also a great in detail review of the overall situation here and here.

Embracing Continuous Testing: A Step-by-Step Guide

Testinium — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 23:28:02 +0000

Introduction

In the fast-paced world of software development, adopting continuous testing has become a crucial aspect of ensuring the delivery of high-quality, reliable products. Continuous testing is an iterative approach that involves testing early and often throughout the development lifecycle. In this article, we’ll explore the steps to successfully adopt continuous testing in your software development processes.

Foster a Testing-Centric Culture

Embracing continuous testing starts with creating a testing-centric culture within your organization. Encourage collaboration between developers and testers to ensure testing is integrated into every phase of the software development process. Make sure that all team members understand the significance of continuous testing in delivering top-notch products.

Automate Test Cases

Automation is a cornerstone of continuous testing. Identify repetitive test cases and automate them to accelerate the testing process. By automating tests, you can execute them more frequently, obtain quicker feedback, and identify issues early on, saving time and resources.

Integrate Testing into CI/CD Pipeline

For effective continuous testing, integrate testing into your Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipeline. Automate the execution of tests whenever there is a code change or deployment. This integration ensures that every code update is thoroughly validated, preventing the introduction of defects into the production environment.

Implement Shift-Left Testing

Shift-left testing involves bringing testing activities earlier in the development cycle. Encourage developers to write unit tests for their code as they build it. This approach ensures that defects are caught early in the development process, reducing the time and effort required for bug fixing later on.

Monitor Test Results

Continuous testing generates vast amounts of test data. Establish a monitoring system to track and analyze test results regularly. Use key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of your continuous testing efforts. This data-driven approach enables you to identify trends, make data-backed decisions, and continuously improve your testing strategy.

Implement Behavior-Driven Development (BDD)

Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) emphasizes collaboration between developers, testers, and business stakeholders. Encourage the use of BDD frameworks like Cucumber to define test cases in a readable and easily understandable format. BDD promotes a shared understanding of requirements, ensuring that the tests align with business objectives.

Conclusion

Continuous testing is not just a process; it is a mindset that fosters a culture of quality and collaboration within software development teams. By adopting continuous testing and integrating it into your CI/CD pipeline, automating test cases, and embracing shift-left testing, you can ensure a robust testing process that catches defects early and continuously enhances the overall quality of your software products. Embrace continuous testing, and you’ll be well on your way to delivering exceptional, reliable software solutions in today’s fast-paced digital landscape.

The Significance of Mobile Testing and What to Expect in the Future

Testinium — Tue, 23 May 2023 07:13:50 +0000

The significance of mobile app testing in determining the mobile user experience cannot be overstated. It is crucial for developers to prioritize mobile app testing throughout the development process when striving to create top-notch mobile applications. However, what exactly is mobile app testing, and why is it crucial?

Mobile testing is the process of evaluating the functionality, performance, and usability of mobile applications on various devices and platforms. This type of testing is essential in ensuring that mobile applications meet the expectations of users and work flawlessly in real-world scenarios.

Over the last decade, mobile testing has undergone significant evolution due to the rapid growth of mobile technology. The number of mobile devices and operating systems has multiplied, leading to a more complex testing environment. Additionally, the increase in mobile app usage has resulted in more stringent testing requirements to ensure seamless functionality across all devices and platforms.

One of the significant changes in mobile testing over the last decade has been the shift towards automation. Automated testing has become an integral part of mobile testing, as it offers faster and more efficient testing processes. Automation testing tools use scripts to run test cases, saving time and effort compared to manual testing. The adoption of automation testing has increased the reliability of test results while reducing the risk of human error.

Another significant change in mobile testing has been the use of cloud-based testing platforms. With the rise of cloud computing, testing platforms have moved from on-premise to cloud-based solutions. Cloud-based testing allows testers to access a broad range of devices and operating systems, reducing the need to purchase and maintain physical devices. Additionally, cloud-based testing provides more flexibility and scalability in testing, making it easier to test mobile applications in various scenarios.

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has also impacted mobile testing in the last decade. AI and ML can automate the testing process further and identify bugs and issues that human testers might miss. These technologies also enable testers to analyze large data sets to identify patterns and predict how users will interact with the application. As a result, mobile testing has evolved significantly in the last decade due to the rapid growth of mobile technology. The adoption of automation testing, cloud-based testing, and the emergence of AI and ML have transformed the way mobile applications are tested. These developments have led to faster and more efficient testing processes, ensuring that mobile applications are reliable and meet the expectations of users.

The Importance of Mobile Testing

The rise of mobile devices has significantly changed the way we live, work, and communicate. With the increasing number of smartphones and tablets, businesses need to ensure that their mobile applications are functioning flawlessly to meet the demands of their customers. Mobile testing is essential for identifying any issues that might arise in the application and ensuring that it runs smoothly on all types of mobile devices. In this article, we will explore the importance of mobile testing, the challenges it presents, and what to expect in the future.

Mobile Testing Challenges

One of the primary challenges of mobile testing is the vast array of devices and operating systems available in the market. It is crucial to test the application on various devices and operating systems to ensure that it functions seamlessly across the board. Additionally, mobile testing requires a specific skill set and tools that are different from traditional software testing. Testers need to have a deep understanding of the mobile operating system, mobile device limitations, and user experience.

Another challenge of mobile testing is the diversity of network conditions. Unlike desktop applications that typically run on a stable network, mobile applications need to function on different network speeds, bandwidths, and connectivity. This means that mobile testing needs to consider various network conditions to ensure that the application works in real-world situations.

What to Expect in Terms of Mobile Testing in the Future

With the rapid advancement of mobile technology, the future of mobile testing is set to evolve significantly. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are likely to play a more prominent role in mobile testing. AI can analyze large data sets to identify patterns and predict how users will interact with the application. ML can automate the testing process and identify bugs and issues that human testers might miss.

Another trend in mobile testing is the use of cloud-based testing platforms. Cloud-based testing allows for more efficient and cost-effective testing as it eliminates the need to purchase and maintain expensive hardware and software. It also allows testers to access a vast range of devices and operating systems, ensuring that the application works seamlessly across various platforms. In conclusion, mobile testing is essential for ensuring that mobile applications function seamlessly across a range of devices, operating systems, and network conditions. While there are various challenges associated with mobile testing, the future of mobile testing looks promising. With the emergence of AI, ML, and cloud-based testing, we can expect to see faster and more efficient testing processes that can help businesses deliver high-quality mobile applications to their customers.

To ensure success in their mobile apps, software companies should use mobile testing as an integral part of their development process. Mobile testing can help identify and resolve issues before releasing the application to the market, improving the overall user experience and reducing the risk of negative reviews and customer churn. Here are some ways software companies can use mobile testing to ensure success in their mobile apps:

Define clear testing objectives and test cases: Software companies should have a clear understanding of what they want to achieve through mobile testing. This involves defining clear testing objectives and creating detailed test cases that cover all possible scenarios.
Test on real devices and platforms: Mobile testing should be performed on real devices and platforms, including different versions of operating systems, screen sizes, and resolutions. Testing on real devices ensures that the application performs well in real-world scenarios and meets the needs of users.
Perform functional testing: Functional testing ensures that the mobile application meets its intended purpose and performs as expected. It involves testing features such as user interface, navigation, login, and registration.
Conduct performance testing: Performance testing involves testing the application’s speed, responsiveness, and stability under different network conditions. This is crucial in ensuring that the application performs well, even under adverse network conditions.
Perform security testing: Security testing is essential in ensuring that the mobile application is secure and protected against vulnerabilities such as data breaches and unauthorized access. This involves testing the application’s encryption, authentication, and authorization mechanisms.
Use automated testing tools: Automated testing tools can significantly reduce testing time and effort while ensuring consistent and reliable results. Software companies should leverage automation testing tools to improve the testing process and reduce the risk of human error.

Conclusion

In conclusion, mobile testing is a crucial part of the software development process that software companies should prioritize to ensure success in their mobile apps. By defining clear testing objectives, testing on real devices and platforms, conducting functional, performance, and security testing, and using automated testing tools, software companies can ensure that their mobile applications meet the needs of users and deliver a seamless user experience.

How to Improve Test Environments and Understand Your Testers’ Needs

Testinium — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 12:52:13 +0000

Software projects are only as successful as their tests. Testers are the key to making your software viable for use by users. Without understanding their needs, software projects can quickly fall short of expectations.

Testers must be able to clearly understand the project details and identify potential areas of improvement or risk. They should also be able to pinpoint any areas of the project that may be more prone to errors and delays. By having a comprehensive understanding of testers’ needs, you can ensure that your project management practices are up to scratch and that your deadlines are being met.

In this article, we look at why understanding the needs of your testers is critical to the success or failure of your software projects. We’ll provide some tips on how you can better meet the requirements of your testers and foster a productive working relationship with them. Finally, we’ll discuss how test automation services can streamline testing processes, so you can help ensure success in all aspects of your software projects.

Software projects are complex and involve a diverse team of experts performing different roles. One of the most important roles is the software tester, but their role is often misunderstood or undervalued.Your software project’s success or failure often depends on the tester’s ability to identify and report issues in the code. If they don’t have the right tools or skills to do this, then your project is unlikely to succeed.

That’s why it’s essential to understand testers’ needs when planning your software projects. This will ensure that they have the right tools, skills and knowledge in order to provide detailed results so you can make informed decisions. Here, we will discuss why understanding testers’ needs is essential for successful software projects, as well as what tools and processes you should use to ensure that testers are equipped to do their job effectively.

What Is Software Testing and Why Is It Important?

Software testing is an important part of making sure your software project is successful. Testing helps to ensure that the final product meets the customer’s expectations. It also verifies that all features and functions are working as designed. Testers must have a clear understanding of the requirements, expected outcomes, and the risks associated with each feature so they can effectively evaluate the product.

Testing also helps uncover any potential issues before deployment, saving time and money in the long run. Plus, it provides assurance to stakeholders that their investment was worthwhile and that their product meets its goals. Without testing, the success of your software project could be in jeopardy.

The Key Requirements of a Software Testing Plan

Whether you are a software developer or a tester, understanding the key requirements of a software testing plan is critical to the success or failure of your project. The main elements of the plan should include:

Comprehensive detail on the manner in which testing will be conducted, including methods and tools that will be used;
A clearly defined timeline for completion of test execution tasks;
Determining who will be responsible for conducting tests and where their skills lie;
Documentation detailing all issues found during the test process and how they have been addressed;
Defining what types of tests need to be performed with proper coverage and adequate test data.

By taking action based on these requirements and factors, you can meet the needs of testers and ensure that you are able to deliver software projects successfully. With an efficient testing process, developers can improve their workflow significantly while ensuring that quality is never compromised.

What Are the Different Types of Test Environments?

If you’re working on a software project that needs to be tested, it’s important to understand the different types of test environments that might be used. The purpose of each type of test environment is to ensure the quality and reliability of the software before it is released for use.

The most common types of test environments are:

Development Environment: This is the place where a software application is developed, typically on local machines or servers. The purpose of this environment is to allow developers to run and debug their code with minimal difficulty. This environment may also be used for unit testing, when needed.
Test Environment: This environment allows testers to evaluate the behavior of an application in simulated or actual production scenarios. It also provides testers with access to tools such as logging and performance monitoring, which can be used to analyze the application’s behavior in different use cases.
Production Environment: This is the environment where an application runs in its final form after all development and testing has been done. This environment should have robust monitoring capabilities in order to detect any anomalies or issues that may arise during usage by real users.

Understanding which type of test environment works best for your project will help ensure its success—so don’t underestimate its importance!

The Benefits of Using Test Environments

Creating test environments specifically tailored to testers’ needs can be a powerful advantage in software projects. By building and maintaining the right test environments, organizations can reduce project costs and optimize efficiency.

Test environments can yield multiple benefits:

Increased speed – Test environments provide a space to rapidly prototype and deploy, minimizing the time it takes to develop and get feedback on new software.
Improved accuracy – Test environment solutions provide more data points per test, making it easier to detect problems earlier and take corrective action. This leads to higher quality software with fewer bugs.
Greater efficiency – Test environment solutions are highly automated, enabling tests to be run with minimal manual effort or intervention. This means organizations can get accurate results faster, reducing overall project costs.

Ultimately, by leveraging the power of test environments designed for testers’ needs, organizations can maximize their chances for success in any software project.

Understanding How to Utilize Test Environments for Software Success

When it comes to software testing, testers must be able to work in a variety of environments in order to properly perform their job. Understanding the features and benefits of each environment can be critical for the success or failure of your software projects. The use of test environments is essential for ensuring that the software runs correctly and is free of any bugs or other issues. Test environments also provide testers with a safe space where they can run tests without fear of corrupting production data or taking down services.

It’s important to ensure that your test environment is appropriate for the project, as each environment has its own benefits and challenges. For example, cloud-based testing environments can be cheaper but may not offer all the features needed by testers. On the other hand, non-cloud based test environments may be more expensive but offer more control and flexibility.

You should also consider how quickly you need tests to be completed in order to make sure you are using a test environment that best fits your timeline as well as your budget. Utilizing an appropriate test environment will help ensure testing is done efficiently and effectively.

Challenges Faced in Software Testing Projects and How to Overcome Them

When it comes to ensuring the success of software projects, understanding the challenges faced by your testers is paramount. Testers have to evaluate complex systems, often involving difficult and intricate features. They must identify and document defects quickly in order to ensure that customer expectations are met. As a software developer, you need to be aware of the challenges faced by testers in order to ensure that you address their needs effectively.

Some of the common challenges faced by testers include:

Unclear requirements: Many times, test requirements are not defined clearly which can lead to misunderstandings about the specifications and expectations.
Lack of sufficient test data: Testers may not have access to adequate data sets for testing in environments that resemble real world conditions.
Insufficient resources and skill sets: Testers may not have access to appropriate tools and the necessary skill sets needed for efficient testing.
Regression testing: Regression tests should be conducted regularly in order to assess changes and detect any unexpected behavior caused by those changes. However, regression tests can be time consuming due to their complex nature and scope.

In order to successfully overcome these challenges, it is important that you provide your testers with clear specifications as well as sufficient resources, such as automated test automation tools, that are tailored to their specific needs. Automated tools can generate test data quickly and accurately while helping reduce dependency on manual resources. Furthermore, they can speed up regression testing while helping ensure better quality assurance outcomes.

Understanding your Testers' Needs

In order to succeed in software projects, it’s critical to understand the needs of your testers. Testers make sure that the software performs according to requirements, so learning what they need is essential for your success. The most important thing for testers is that their work environment is orderly and organized. This means that they need a clean workstation, proper tools and supplies, and a well-defined software testing process.

A structured testing process can help ensure that all aspects of the software are tested thoroughly, from functional testing to performance testing to test automation. The right test automation services will create tests that cover all the bases and provide meaningful results. Your testers should also be given enough time to conduct their tests properly. If they feel rushed or undervalued, they won’t be able to give you their best work. Ensure that you communicate clearly with your testers and ask them if they have any questions or concerns about the test process before it begins.

By taking the time to understand your testers’ needs, you’ll have better chances of creating successful software projects. Proper communication and structured processes will help your team deliver quality results on time – something everyone involved can be proud of achieving!

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is important to understand the needs of your testers and ensure that your software project is meeting their expectations. The key requirements of a software testing plan must be met in order to ensure the success of your project. It is also imperative to build the right test environment to ensure that your tests run seamlessly and accurately. By understanding the needs of your testers, you will be better equipped to develop a testing plan that meets their requirements and leads to the successful completion of your software projects.

Top Test Automation Trends To Look Out For In 2023

Testinium — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 10:22:30 +0000

How can test automation assist firms in delivering high-quality software solutions that satisfy today’s consumer expectations and needs? What trends should you look out for this year? In this post, we will discuss the primary drivers of testing transformation, as well as the top test automation trends and their advantages. Continue reading to learn how to harness the power of test automation and achieve success.

If you aim to develop a reliable company in the software sector, you must create and provide high-quality software services. The automated testing ecosystem has radically changed as new trends enter the IT sector. Many firms have changed their approach to test automation procedures, and new technologies have brought about the most recent improvements in the SDLC.

Cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), robotic process automation (RPA), and natural language processing (NLP) all have a significant influence on the future of testing.

Influencing Factors on Test Automation Landscape for the Future

A number of influences frequently push the business to adapt to developments. Let’s look at the factors that will determine the future of test automation:

• The necessity to prioritize test automation in the changing environment.

• A requirement to modify test automation tools in order to avoid process flaws.

• The requirement to generate almost 100% test coverage.

• A requirement for more novel test automation ways to get desired outcomes.

• The requirement to carry out the test management procedure correctly.

• The necessity to outperform competition by examining software products already in the market.

• The requirement to discover a more cost-effective option.

• The necessity to assemble a team of adaptable professionals in a short period of time in order to begin automated testing using Agile methodology.

The future of test automation will depend on which firms can adopt new ideas and use novel automation testing technologies to fulfill changing demands and offer high-quality software solutions. Furthermore, keep in mind that test automation necessitates collaboration and communication among all parties engaged in the process. Keeping this in mind, it is critical to examine test automation trends, determine which one works best for you, and ensure that it will result in success.

Top Software Testing Trends for 2023

The top testing trends are shown below to help you determine what the future of automated testing will be in 2023:

#1: Exploratory Testing

We are aiming towards test automation as technology progresses. However, robust non-automated testing will always be required. If teams choose and properly use exploratory testing, it can substantially influence the future of testing and deliver great benefits.

#2: Testing on the Cloud

Quality assurance engineers have access to a variety of devices that simulate real-world traffic when they choose cloud-based infrastructure. This allows them to run code through a number of automated tests, removing server settings, deployment difficulties, and so on. Furthermore, they can mix DevOps procedures with cloud testing tools and adapt them to meet the needs of the product.

#3: Continuous Testing

Continuous testing, as a quality driver, enables QA engineers to reframe their strategic position in the business. When combined with CI/CD technologies, it aids in meeting rising consumer demands for high quality and speed, allows scalability, and provides rapid time-to-market.

#4: Microservices Testing

In terms of versatility and extensibility, this testing trend will undoubtedly be the next big thing. Microservices design enables development teams to construct a solution as a collection of micro autonomous services centered on a certain business topic. As a result, if a modification is necessary, programmers do not need to design and deploy the entire suite simultaneously. When testing, teams may test each service and its functional components independently, evaluate performance and progress, and so on. They can also include it into a DevOps environment to reduce the chance of software product failure.

#5: In-Spring Automation

Software quality becomes the aim of the entire team with in-sprint automation, including a Product Manager, BAs, Project Managers, Development teams, QA teams, and so on. It seeks to streamline the complete testing process into a single sprint by merging all of the core testing operations.

#6: Crowdtesting

The primary idea of crowdtesting is to utilize the power of the crowd. This implies that businesses get their products assessed by actual people on real devices all around the world. You can increase your time-to-market by making your software solutions more observable. However, you may utilize crowdsourcing to grow your automated testing capability if there is an increased need, for example, before of a major release or when addressing a widely dispersed market.

#7: Scriptless Test Automation

The next area of importance for Agile and DevOps is codeless test automation. That is why more businesses are adopting scriptless. This ground-breaking method gives them a robust interface for designing automation suites. Testers and developers may automate test cases without needing to know how to code. Furthermore, they can acquire findings more quickly and eliminate the manual testing labor required to construct first test scripts. Instead of writing real code, testers simply need to specify the testing steps. They can also concentrate on discovering novel and creative ways to automate.

#8: Natural Language Processing Automation

Natural Language Processing is one of the scriptless test automation trends. NLP enables testers, developers, and project managers involved in testing procedures to create, update, manage, and automate test cases while firmly integrating them into the flexible software delivery pipeline. No specific abilities are required for team members to carry out such testing.

#9: AI-Powered Testing

Artificial intelligence in testing streamlines the entire software development lifecycle. AI-powered technologies aid in the automation of the repetitive and manual elements of software development and testing. Despite being a relatively new topic in the testing process, AI-based technologies in automated testing are more relevant than ever.

Rapid Evolution of Technology in Autotesting

If test automation is today’s hot topic, where do you see testing going in the future and how can you capitalize on it? The correct solution is to establish your business needs, choose the appropriate test automation strategy, pick appropriate automation testing tools, and create circumstances for automation to achieve the required results.

With rapid change, strong competition, and digital transformation, automation has become a “must have” skill for delivering high-quality products quickly. As a result, firms must use test automation to keep ahead of critical software testing trends.

Testinium Is Among Turkey’s Top 50 Fastest-Growing Companies!

Testinium — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 13:26:11 +0000

Testinium has been awarded to be in the list of Turkey's top 50 fastest-growing companies four years in a row!

Testinium has again earned its place in the list of Turkey’s 50 fastest-growing technology companies accredited by Deloitte! We are delighted to have achieved this big milestone over the last four years, which has been driven by our commitment to R&D investments and innovative solutions.

We are thrilled to announce this remarkable achievement, as it verifies our ambition of being one of Turkey’s leading technology businesses on a global scale, and we hope to add more successful recognitions and awards to our portfolio in the near future.

Testinium is a Finalist in Two Different Categories at European Software Testing Awards 2022!

Testinium — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 14:57:38 +0000

We are thrilled to announce that Testinium has earned its place as a finalist in two categories at the European Software Testing Awards 2022!

The finalists from Testinium and their categories are listed below:

For the “Best Overall Testing Project – Finance” category, the European Software Testing Awards judges were looking for:

Detailed Discussion of project goals, importance, achievements, resources and successful results
Evidence of great vision, forward-thinking & working closely with stakeholders to deliver the project on time and within budget
Demonstration of a successful software testing project utilising a best practice method/technique
Evidence and evaluation of overcoming project challenges/obstacles

For the “Graduate Tester of the Year” category, the European Software Testing Awards judges were looking for:

A recent graduate, who has completed university or an apprenticeship scheme in the last 2 years, who has shown outstanding commitment and development in the testing field. Judges will be looking for:

Graduate background, and why they joined the testing world
Examples of challenges in the Journey and how they overcome those challenges
Evidences and evaluation of self-training and improvement
Discussion of what graduate wants to do in the future and how they will contribute to the future of testing

We are honored to have earned this remarkable achievement, and we would like to congratulate all the other candidates!

Testinium Is One Of Turkey’s Top 500 Technology Companies!

Testinium — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 07:14:50 +0000

Testinium once again has earned its place as one of Turkey’s Top 500 Technology Companies!

Testinium has been acknowledged as one of Turkey’s top 500 technology companies in 2021 according to the yearly earned total profit! Additionally, Testinium has earned the 12th place in software – business applications category in Turkey!

Here's the full list of Testinium’s rankings in each category of operation

Turkey's Top 500 IT Companies
Ranked 192
Turkey-Based Manufacturer
Ranked 68
Turkey-Based Manufacturer - Service
Ranked 24
Turkey-Based Manufacturer - Software
Ranked 92
Turkey-Based Manufacturer - Software - Business Applications
Ranked 12
Turkey-Based Manufacturer - Outsourcing Service
Ranked 6

We are excited to announce this great news since it reflects our strong and rapid global expansion. We are honored to earn these achievements as they reflect our goal of being one of the leading technological companies on a worldwide scale. We aim to expand our list of notable accomplishments in the near future!

Blog Archives - Testinium

CrowdStrike Chaos: A Wake-Up Call for Software Quality

What Happened?Preliminary Post Incident Review: Configuration Update Impacting Falcon Sensor and Windows OS

Update Delivery Mechanisms

Testing and Deployment Process

Specifics of the Incident

Preventative Measures

Create More Robust Continuous Delivery Pipelines, Including Heavy Alerting on Automated Test Failures

Invest More in End-to-End Automated Testing

Invest in Testing on Real Devices, at Least a Representative Subset of Devices

Incorporate Human Testers for Intuitive Contributions

Get Third-Party, Independent Help to Ensure Different Sets of Eyes Are Looking at the Problem

When Greed Trumps Quality: Part-2, Post Office

When Greed Trumps Quality: Part-1, Boeing

Embracing Continuous Testing: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Foster a Testing-Centric Culture

Automate Test Cases

Integrate Testing into CI/CD Pipeline

Implement Shift-Left Testing

Monitor Test Results

Implement Behavior-Driven Development (BDD)

Conclusion

The Significance of Mobile Testing and What to Expect in the Future

The Importance of Mobile Testing

Mobile Testing Challenges

What to Expect in Terms of Mobile Testing in the Future

Conclusion

How to Improve Test Environments and Understand Your Testers’ Needs

What Is Software Testing and Why Is It Important?

The Key Requirements of a Software Testing Plan

What Are the Different Types of Test Environments?

The Benefits of Using Test Environments

Understanding How to Utilize Test Environments for Software Success

Challenges Faced in Software Testing Projects and How to Overcome Them

Understanding your Testers' Needs

Conclusion

Top Test Automation Trends To Look Out For In 2023

Influencing Factors on Test Automation Landscape for the Future

Top Software Testing Trends for 2023

The top testing trends are shown below to help you determine what the future of automated testing will be in 2023:

#1: Exploratory Testing

#2: Testing on the Cloud

#3: Continuous Testing

#4: Microservices Testing

#5: In-Spring Automation

#6: Crowdtesting

#7: Scriptless Test Automation

#8: Natural Language Processing Automation

#9: AI-Powered Testing

Rapid Evolution of Technology in Autotesting

Testinium Is Among Turkey’s Top 50 Fastest-Growing Companies!

Testinium has been awarded to be in the list of Turkey's top 50 fastest-growing companies four years in a row!

Testinium is a Finalist in Two Different Categories at European Software Testing Awards 2022!

For the “Best Overall Testing Project – Finance” category, the European Software Testing Awards judges were looking for:

For the “Graduate Tester of the Year” category, the European Software Testing Awards judges were looking for:

A recent graduate, who has completed university or an apprenticeship scheme in the last 2 years, who has shown outstanding commitment and development in the testing field. Judges will be looking for:

We are honored to have earned this remarkable achievement, and we would like to congratulate all the other candidates!

Testinium Is One Of Turkey’s Top 500 Technology Companies!

Testinium once again has earned its place as one of Turkey’s Top 500 Technology Companies!

Here's the full list of Testinium’s rankings in each category of operation

What Happened?
Preliminary Post Incident Review: Configuration Update Impacting Falcon Sensor and Windows OS