What software testing tools do you use in your SDLC?

1 Testing Levels

Software testing can be performed at various levels of the SDLC, depending on the scope, purpose, and complexity of the test. Unit testing involves testing individual components or modules of the software in isolation with tools such as JUnit, NUnit, or PyTest. Integration testing is when multiple components or modules are combined and tested as a group using tools such as TestNG, Selenium, or Postman. System testing is when the entire software system is tested as a whole using tools such as JMeter, LoadRunner, or SoapUI. Lastly, acceptance testing is the highest level of testing where the software system is tested against user requirements and expectations using tools such as Cucumber, SpecFlow, or Behat.

3 Testing Methods

Software testing can be conducted via various methods, depending on the source of information, feedback, or data for the test. Black-box testing is when the tester does not have access to or knowledge of the internal structure or code of the software system, only testing the inputs and outputs with tools such as Burp Suite, Fiddler, or Wireshark. White-box testing is when the tester has access to and knowledge of the internal structure or code of the software system, testing the logic, flow, and coverage with tools such as SonarQube, Coverity, or Code Climate. Grey-box testing is when the tester has partial access to or knowledge of the internal structure or code of the software system, testing both the inputs and outputs and the logic and flow with tools such as Postman, SoapUI, or Rest-Assured.

4 Testing Strategies

Software testing can be planned and executed with different strategies depending on the scope, priority, and risk of the test. Test-driven development (TDD) is a strategy where the tester writes the test cases before writing the code, using tools like JUnit, NUnit, or PyTest. Behavior-driven development (BDD) is a strategy where the tester writes the test cases in a natural language that describes the expected behavior of the software system and then writes the code to match it, using tools such as Cucumber, SpecFlow, or Behat. Exploratory testing is a strategy where the tester performs the test without any predefined test cases or scripts, relying on creativity, intuition, and experience with tools like TestRail, TestLodge, or TestPad.

5 Testing Best Practices

Software testing can be more effective and efficient if some best practices are followed throughout the SDLC. These include defining clear and realistic testing objectives and scope, selecting the right tools and techniques for each testing level, type, method, and strategy, designing and documenting test cases and test plans that cover all the requirements and scenarios, executing and monitoring test cases regularly, promptly reporting and tracking defects and issues, as well as reviewing and improving test processes and test quality.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?