Is Manual Software Testing The Way To Go?
In the world of software testing there are two avenues that you can take called automated and manual software testing. As you can probably guess, manual software testing gives you more control over the testing process. This can sometimes be a very good thing if you know what you are doing. If you don't know exactly what you are doing though, manual software testing can be a road to disaster and must be avoided at all costs. You can waste a lot of time if you are unsure how to conduct a proper manual test. In this article we will try to help you get through the trenches of manual software testing safely by giving you some tips on how to conduct a proper test.
The first thing you should do is sit down with everyone. That means execs, staff, managers, developers, and testers. Have a discussion and get all of these individuals input on what the test should cover and build up a portfolio of requirements that you can stick with and follow. You don't want to reinvent the wheel every time you conduct a test, so this list of requirements will help minimize costly mistakes and keep you well informed on your progress.
Keep the developers and testers close. You are going to want to let them feed off of each other's experience when preparing manual software testing designs. Also, create accurate documentation so that management is clear on what testing is being conducted. During test phases you will need to document everything. This can be costly as it will slow down your productivity significantly, but if you want to conduct manual software testing it is a must when trying to understand the results of those tests. Learning to manage all these tasks can greatly improve one's skills as a software tester, but be sure that you aren't improving those skills at the expense of the company you are working for.
Frankly if you are not up to the task of manual software testing you shouldn't begin. For individuals like you, automation is the way to go. With an automated testing platform you can better manage all software testing in less time and with less room for the errors that can occur when something is not documented properly. The rule of thumb in this industry is that you should never make more than five percent of the tests manual. Remember that manual software testing can take up a lot of time. This might be time that a company is willing to spend, but for most, it's going to be a factor for you when coming up with a budget and getting all the tests accomplished before that budget is exceeded. It is always a good idea to rank your test in order of importance. That way you will be sure that even if you do not have a lot of time, you can still complete the high priority tests before beginning with tests that aren't necessarily as important.
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