Chapter 1: The Landscape of Software Development

In the realm of daily software development, discussions arise frequently among teams, companies, or online platforms. Topics range from feature implementation to scheduling client meetings for further clarifications.

Often, consensus emerges naturally; team members keep each other updated. However, disagreements can feel combative—particularly when discussing Git strategies, where it’s crucial to ensure a safe environment devoid of any potential conflict.

Another contentious topic is the Quality Assurance (QA) strategy. Thankfully, our shift toward more remote work has allowed us to share our thoughts without fearing harsh repercussions. Generally, we agree on the essentials: unique test data, mocking tools, production backups, and automation through pipelines. Yet, we often circle back to the fundamental question: what makes the QA strategy so challenging to navigate? Stay tuned for insights.

Chapter 2: The Fundamental Principle of Quality Assurance

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The notion that manual testing falls solely within the QA engineer's purview is a misconception.

This might seem straightforward, but it’s essential to emphasize that manual testing should be a collective responsibility involving all team members, including Frontend, Backend, and DevOps developers.

While some may argue that manual testing is tedious, it remains a vital aspect of the development process. Historically, QA roles were often relegated to simulating user actions, a perspective that still lingers in some organizations.

Though test automation tools have been available since the early '90s, the real revolution occurred with the advent of automation frameworks in the 2000s. Today, test automation is indispensable to modern software development.

However, many companies still regard automation as a peripheral duty for QA engineers, neglecting the engineering aspect of their roles. This oversight can lead to a decline in software quality.

What advantages arise from a more collaborative approach to manual testing?

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By distributing manual testing responsibilities across the entire team, we may initially perceive a dip in productivity.

It may appear counterintuitive to assign repetitive tasks to highly skilled professionals, but this distribution is beneficial in the long run.

Nobody comprehends our software better than the developers themselves. This understanding positions them perfectly to identify gaps in their code.

When testing software, developers can consider edge cases and issues that may arise beyond the acceptance criteria. With shared manual testing responsibilities, we can uncover bugs earlier, preventing them from escalating into production problems.

Chapter 3: The Importance of Test Automation

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The key to achieving long-term stability in code is through rigorous test automation, which encompasses various types of testing—functional, component, user interface, and more.

If QA engineers are solely tasked with manual testing, who will be accountable for crafting the necessary automated tests?

In many cases, automated tests are linked to the technologies preferred by the development team, such as unit tests or contract tests. However, there are instances where additional tests must be created using unfamiliar technologies and frameworks.

This is where QA engineers shine, as they are responsible for writing automated tests that will be executed in future pipelines, ensuring stability and functionality after new features are delivered.

Thus, we mitigate the potential for wasted time. Each new automated test allows manual testing to focus primarily on sanity checks in staging or pre-production environments during regular releases.

Chapter 4: Fostering Team Ownership

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When QA duties are shared among team members, it fosters a greater sense of responsibility for the quality of the application.

Conversely, when QA is assigned to a single individual—often the case in teams with only one QA engineer—other developers may mistakenly feel less accountable for the overall quality of their code.

This scenario can lead to a lack of attention to code quality, as some developers may rely too heavily on the QA engineer as a safety net.

By distributing QA responsibilities, we remind developers that they are the last line of defense. If something isn’t adequately covered, the entire team shares the responsibility for resolving the issue and discussing preventative measures for the future.

Chapter 5: Enhancing Team Knowledge

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As team members engage in testing features created by others, they gain insights into the broader project landscape and the interconnectedness of various features.

While not every team member may be involved in developing all features, encouraging everyone to test unfamiliar features fosters a culture of learning and collaboration.

The key is ensuring that testers focus on features they did not develop themselves. This approach minimizes bias and enriches the collective knowledge of the team.

This strategy also proves invaluable when a QA engineer is unavailable, as it prevents chaos and keeps testing processes running smoothly.

Conclusion

Increasing the number of individuals responsible for manual testing does not detract from our most highly compensated team members; instead, it enhances code stability, promotes test automation, and fosters a culture of shared knowledge and accountability.

In light of this, I have a simple guideline for my team:

GIVEN I am a DEV team member (Frontend, Backend, or QA)

WHEN I complete my current task

AND I see tasks marked as ready for testing

THEN I will select the first ready-for-testing task to perform manual testing on.

GIVEN I am a DEV team member (Frontend, Backend, or QA)

WHEN I finish my current task

AND I do not see any tasks marked as ready for testing

THEN I will choose the first task from the to-do list that aligns with my technology expertise.

Chapter 6: Practical Insights from Quality Assurance Experts

Discover effective strategies for enhancing Quality Assurance practices.

Learn how to establish a robust Quality Assurance process with top tips!