7 Quality Assurance Best Practices to Deliver Stable Software

If you create software and want to get the most from your team’s effort, you need the right quality assurance practices. Quality assurance ensures the software you create meets your users’ needs and has as few issues as possible. With proper software QA, you craft software that stands apart from the res, building trust and reliability with your users. Whether you implement manual or automatic testing, keep these seven tips near the front of your mind, and you will be glad you did.

Software Quality Assurance Best Practices:

1. Planning

Planning is the first stage of quality assurance. Layout a roadmap of all the key elements of your software explaining what should be tested, how should it be done, and how to evaluate outcomes. Also, create milestones that move you towards a fully tested version of your software without missing any details.

Have systems in place when things don't go the way you had planned, and when these situations arise, you will be pleased with the final outcome after you implement said systems. Document each stage of your software testing to help you and your team stay on track. The right process gives you peace of mind and gives you and your clients the best version of your software.

2. Prioritize Bug Fixes Based on Usage

As you move forward with your software development plan, pay attention to the bugs you encounter along the way. Bugs are unexpected issues in your software that prevent it from working properly. Some bugs are so insignificant that they don't cause much trouble, but others crash your software and cause major problems.

You don't want to release your software until you get all those problems under control. When you find bugs in your software, fix them based on usage. If some bugs come up more than others, address those bugs before moving on to the others. Keeping your bugs under control is the top way to produce quality software that does the job right.

3. Continuous Delivery

Some people assume that quality assurance stops when they release their software, but that is not the case. Quality assurance is an ongoing process that never ends. No matter how well you craft your software, bugs and other issues can come up over time. Continuous delivery lets you update and improve your software after it’s developed, in short cycles, at a greater speed and frequency, while preventing down time. If you discover bugs, continuous delivery empowers you to handle them without stress. You keep more customers and prove you have what it takes to provide quality software each step of the way.

4. Conduct External Quality Reviews

External quality reviews are another vital part of the process. You have to ensure the software you craft is of the highest possible quality at all times. You might miss something when reviewing your own software, and you don't want to fall into that trap. When you review your software, you won't always see everything from an objective point of view. Combat that problem with external reviews.

When you get an external review, you hire an outside company to vet your software's quality. This company can find issues you did not see. If you hire an experienced technical support company, they can fix bugs and optimize your software in ways you once thought were impossible.

The right software company can make all the difference in the world, and the outcome will make you smile. You will be surprised when you discover the advantages of working with the right technology support team. You can improve your results and take your software's quality to a whole new level.

5. Quality Assurance Software Tester

You must have a software tester on your team. A software tester uses your software and keeps track of any issues that come up. For example, your software tester will note any problems with the user interface. Software testers also do much more than that. They detect bugs and other problems before you release your software to the public. Catching these issues in advance is much easier than finding them later (or being told by a client), and your software tester will review each part of your development plan to help you avoid unexpected problems.

6. Run a Regression Cycle

Regression testing happens toward the end of your software development cycle. When your software is almost done, you might add additional features that you had not considered. The new features alter the code and might cause new bugs to show up. When those bugs appear, they can ruin your software and harm the user experience.

Avoid that problem with regression testing. With regression testing, you go back and look for new bugs that show up after adding new features. You can use regression testing even after you complete your software. If you change your software after releasing it, ensure you run more regression tests.

7. Perform Sanity Tests on Production

Sanity tests are vital. If you want to complete your software production cycle without further issues and to maintain uninterrupted runtime after deployment, don't forget to run sanity tests. Sanity tests look at the final product and ensure no bugs are present. You run sanity tests to verify your software is ready for release after you do regression testing.

The last stage of testing catches any issues you might have missed along the way. You reduce your odds of running into problems in the future. When you conduct this test, you optimize your software to make it as free from errors as possible when you release your product to the market or when you deploy new updates and features.

Final Thoughts

Testing your software is a fundamental component of owning software. No matter the type of software you release, you want to make it as close to perfection as possible. The software you release reflects your reputation and the values for which your company stands. When you create software, you want to put your best foot forward so that you don't fall behind.

The right quality testing process irons out your bugs and enhances your odds of getting the results you deserve. If you have your own team, do your own quality testing to save money. On the other hand, use a software development company to give you a hand with your goals.