How can you effectively test in a shift-left environment?

In a "shift-left" testing environment, the testing process is integrated earlier into the SDLC, typically starting from the early stages of design & development. This approach helps identify & address issues at an earlier stage, leading to faster & more efficient development cycles. Here are some strategies to effectively test in a shift-left environment: 1. Collaboration & Communication 2. Early test planning 3. Automation 4. CI/DI 5. Static code analysis 6. Early validation of requirements 7. Shift-left security testing 8. Set up and maintain test environments that closely mimic production 9. Continuous feedback loop 10. Performance testing 11. UAT 12. Monitoring & logging 13. Training & skill development 14. Metrics & reporting

Shift left testing is not a new jargon as traditionally Test early and test often leads to Shift left. Shift left is not only the strategy to extend the testing to the left and also adopt the same technologies(App is developed in JAVA and Automation tool should be in sync with the base language as JAVA, So that QA can get most benefit from the DEV Team to enhance the capabilities) Automate-Automate-Automate: Continuously think for automating majority of the activities starting from requirements. All the Groups(DEV/Product/QA/DevOps) come together to have the better shift left strategy to minimize the surprises in PROD(which is shift Right)

In a "Shift Left" approach to software development, effective testing involves integrating automated and manual testing processes early and continuously. It's about embedding quality into the development lifecycle, starting with Test-Driven Development and continuous integration to ensure timely detection and resolution of issues. Emphasizing collaboration between developers, testers, and stakeholders, the approach advocates for a holistic view, where quality is a collective responsibility. Key practices include comprehensive unit testing, integration of non-functional tests (such as security and usability), and maintaining scalable, maintainable test suites.

Shift left is more about effective collaboration between QA and project stakeholders throughout the whole SDLC. Aligning QA activities with the right development phase is a key for best results. For example: creating test strategy and test plans and get alignment on them before the devs start coding will maximize their value and help in preventing bugs as we already know risks and egde cases early in the process. Aligning on quality bar and make it part of the definition of done will reduce the number of back and forth between QA and Dev team. Align on automation strategy and automation coverage early in the process will help QA focus only on the manual testing and building a strong quality metrics that measures development process success

Execute all tests in lower level environments (unit,integration) Run tests as soon as possible on early environments 4 types are : traditional, shift-left, incremental, agile/devops shift left and model based shift left

In a shift-left testing environment, effective testing is achieved through collaboration with the team. This means involving testers, developers, and other stakeholders early in the development process. By working closely together, team members can share insights, discuss requirements, and identify potential issues before they escalate. Testers can provide feedback on user stories and requirements, while developers can offer input on testability and potential edge cases. This collaborative approach ensures that testing efforts are aligned with development goals, leading to faster feedback loops, better quality software, and ultimately, improved customer satisfaction.

Testing isn't a solo gig—it's a team effort that starts early and rocks on! Shift-left testing is the true secret, blending developers, testers, and stakeholders into a quality-driven dream team. Test plans go from dusty relics to shared playbooks. Results? The team wins, is celebrated, and is dissected as one. Feedback flows like a brainstorming bonanza, fueling bug-busting camaraderie. With agile, DevOps, and CI/CD as our backstage crew, automation and continuous communication take center stage. Code reviews and pair testing? They're the jam sessions where we fine-tune every riff. Feedback loops? They're the guiding melody, keeping us in sync for a flawless show.

Shift-left testing requires close collaboration between testers, developers, and stakeholders throughout the delivery lifecycle. Review scope and plans together to align test coverage with changing blast radii. Develop robust interface models through joint behaviour analysis sessions. Implement test automation frameworks for reusable component tests and encourage developers to run unit tests during build validation. Establish feedback for early failure detection along architectural / change boundaries, adopt peer code reviews and facilitate real-time feedback sessions. Enhance communication channels to address pain points, fostering an open, quality-focused culture.

Shift Testing??? Any testing no matter the business requires involved teams, testers + developers & data builders. Stakeholders should be made aware of progress during the test program, however they are not involved within the hands-on procedure. Only after the testing is completed successfully and the teams reach GA with the program should any tools or automatic testing be introduced. Daily or weekly updates should be sent to all departments involved in the project.

In my experience collaboration involves a good communication plan and stakeholder engagement. Communicate proactively and listen with care. Be clear and concise and don’t make assumptions. Identify the stakeholders, their expectations and needs. Be transparent and keep them consistently informed and updated.

Shift-left testing turns to be a real game-changer in the world of software development, as it points out that the integration of tests is to be performed much earlier in the development lifecycle. It involves practices such as risk analysis, exploratory testing, and automated test design and execution right from the beginning to raise the overall quality and efficiency. This article digs much deeper into the best practices for shift-left testing, offering great insight into how the team can leverage such strategies to streamline development, ensure thorough coverage, and most importantly, foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

Adopt a shift-left approach by going back to software testing fundamentals - validation to ensure the product meets functional business and user needs, and verification to check the software works as intended. Create models early on that clearly capture requirements and expected behaviour. Use these for structured test case design, test automation, and living system documentation. Involve all team members in quality discussions, not just testing. Shift testing left in the lifecycle via techniques like collaborative modelling. Continually explore beyond the knowns. Shift left is as much a culture change as it is about tools and process.

Take charge of the risks and focus on smaller segments at a time throughout the entire project. Testing throughout the process will help ensure quality and eliminate the uncertainties, preventing conflicts.

Shift-Left is about: find and fix defects early in the development process. Reduce possibilities of software bugs that will have detrimental effects to your companies revenue, growth and customer experience. Here's what I gathered after working with highly efficient and motivated teams. For best result; Find and place checkers upstream! These checkers must be defined by QA, Ops and Security champions. Focus on creating High Quality and Secure applications for the business. Rule is; It has to be within the IDE, command prompt and snack bar. (in short) within the developer 's work zone. "shift left" scope is only a start to a series of team improvements which ultimately allow more time to work on delivering more value to customers.

Think of your software as a treasure map. We use techniques like risk analysis to identify booby traps (critical areas) and hidden puzzles (complex functionalities). Then, we employ a mix of exploratory testing (like a curious explorer) and test design (creating clever traps to catch bugs) to ensure we've covered all the important ground. ? This targeted approach ensures we find and fix critical issues early, saving time, money, and maybe even your sanity! ?Remember, it's about quality, not quantity, and with the right testing strategy, we can ensure your software is a treasure trove, not a disaster zone.

I agree with what is explained, however few more things that should be considered are: 1. Do a testability assessment prior to the start of actual testing 2. Do a early testing for any smaller component that is ready..and if possible do test automation too. Some regression testing and end to end testing can be scheduled later..it will still save time to test 3. Prioritize the must have and critical to business and revenue functionality 4. Seek feedback sooner and often

1. Early Involvement Ensure testers are involved in requirements gathering and design phases for testability considerations from the start. 2. Test Automation : Invest in automated testing for unit tests, integration tests, and API tests to provide quick feedback on code changes. 3. Shift-Left Testing Techniques Employ static code analysis, code reviews, and pair programming to catch defects early in the development cycle. 4.Test Data Management Establish processes for managing test data effectively, including data generation and anonymization. 5.Continuous Monitoring and Feedback Implement monitoring and feedback mechanisms to track test results, identify trends, and prioritize improvements.

One thing I would like to add is we should use the correct test pyramid for test automation types like unit/component tests should cover most part of automation testing, then second is end to end API tests and then at last we should have very less UI automation tests. Proportion can be like 70% unit/component tests, 20% end to end API tests and 10% UI tests. All unit/component tests need to be added as part of CI so should get executed at every merge request. Then End to End API and UI tests can be executed nightly on the master branch to catch issues caused due to different code merges. The test pyramid will save a lot of execution time.

As an SQA engineer, I'm all about efficiency, and shift-left testing with automation is the turbo boost I swear by! It's like strapping a jetpack to your testing process. Automation handles the repetitive grunt work like regression testing, leaving us free to focus on the fun stuff. Faster feedback, fewer bugs sneaking past, and consistent quality from start to finish. But automation isn't a silver bullet. It's killer at repetitive tasks, but human intuition is still king for usability, accessibility, and user experience. That's where manual testing steps in, striking the perfect balance between speed and expertise for top-notch results!

In a shift-left environment, where testing occurs earlier in the development cycle, one key strategy for effective testing is to automate as much as possible. Automation helps to catch issues quickly and consistently, allowing for rapid feedback to developers. By automating unit tests, integration tests, and even some parts of functional testing, teams can ensure that code changes are checked thoroughly without manual intervention. This not only speeds up the testing process but also improves the reliability and repeatability of tests, ultimately leading to higher quality software delivered faster.

In my experience within social care the continuous learning and creating the link between the metrics and outcomes is crucial. The expectations set by the systems and data without the buy in and understanding of the staff, can result in staff using it as a tick box exercise. The reflective practice and making the data real and showing how this reflects within the practice is key to improvement. Staff need to see the benefits and effectiveness to gain full buy in.

Shift-left approach allows a developer or the team to see the defects based on the testing parameters set even before it's deployed. Fail Fast. The faster you see defects, the faster you correct them. You can only improve when you validate your output based on your identified and acceptable parameters. Whether you use Regression Testing or Acceptance Testing or Compatibility Testing, shift-left practice lowers the risk of defects in production.

Shift-left testing's true power lies in its ability to evolve alongside the project. As an SQA engineer, I believe fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement is crucial. This involves: Monitoring and Measuring: Regularly evaluating test coverage, defect escape rates, and automation effectiveness using tools like dashboards, reports, and defect analysis. Data-Driven Insights: Leveraging data and feedback to identify trends, bottlenecks, and areas for improvement. Adapting and Refining: Utilizing these insights to refine test strategies, methods, and tools to align with evolving project needs and user expectations.

Quality developments, true. We must start from understanding the business to test, both by the development team, as well as by quality and product. From there, a quality sustainable solution is born. Maturing the SDLC into a Devops that facilitates the CI/CD maturation process is important because of the type and level of testing, not only functional, but also towards the code, performance, security, and the entire ecosystem of the solution. From manual testing, to automated testing and AI onboarding; It's a process that pays off when adopted by the team and improves the estimation and implementation process

Best approach that works: 1) Learn, adapt and fail fast 2) Start automation from day 1. derive strategy to automate your test cases early even before development is complete (TDD aproach) 3) Focus on supplementory systems and their role in shift left. e.g. test data for automation, effective reporting to identify issues early, less-maintainable framework, continuous testing, quality gates etc 4) Develop and inculcate a culture which allows you to shift left. its not a quick win, however, if implemented correctly, can produce amazing results

*In Shift-Left Environment its more about Quality Assurance rather than Quality Control. *Working Collaboratively with developers, and Architects to understand technical gaps in the design. *Understanding and accessing the business requirements with Business Analysts and Business Users. *Having multiple review sessions for static code analysis, flow diagrams. *Automating repetitive tasks with proper tools and integration with CI/CD pipeline helps a lot. *Having tool setup for Test Driven Development(TDD) and Integration testing. *At the end we should focus on building right product (quality) rather than focusing on achieving 100% test coverage.

In a shift left environment, successful testing relies on collaboration, automation, and a proactive mindset. By actively identifying and addressing issues early in the software development lifecycle, the cost and effort of resolving them later can be significantly reduced.

Shift-left testing is a way to ensure quality and speed. By testing early and often, we can avoid defects and rework. We can deliver software that satisfies our customers and users. But shift-left testing is not a simple task, it demands collaboration, communication, and coordination. It requires a change in mindset and culture. It challenges us to adopt new tools and practices. We may face resistance, resource constraints, and technical problems. But we can overcome them with education, feedback, and support.

Invite your QA to test alongside your Developers. Combine Unit and QA testing. This includes manual and automation. When we did this, it improved the quality of the code dramatically. It shaved time off downstream testing cycles as most bugs were caught early. It saves costs. According to NIST, resolving defects in production can cost 30 times more and?up to 60 times more in case of security defects. So catching bugs early saves costs and time.

In a shift-left testing environment, focus on early testing phases to identify and address issues sooner in the development process. Utilize:Unit Testing: Developers write and run tests for individual code units to catch basic errors early.Static Code Analysis: Analyze source code without executing it, identifying potential issues and improving code quality.Code Reviews: Collaborative review of code changes helps catch issues and ensures adherence to coding standards.Automation: Implement automated testing for integration, regression, and functional testing to streamline repetitive tasks.Continuous Integration (CI): Integrate code changes frequently and automatically run tests to detect integration issues early.