Developer Testing is a trend within Software Development that involves Developers taking on more of the testing responsibility within the software development lifecycle (SDLC); with new SDLCs like DevOps pushing increased collaboration and unsiloing departments, the days when Software Testing was only done by the QA department are gone. However, contrary to popular belief, Developer Testing isn’t all that new in the grand scheme of software development.
That’s right: Developer Testing has its roots in many popularized development and testing methodologies from previous decades; but, it’s garnering attention right now as organizations are embarking on Digital Transformation journeys… yet, it’s not as easy as saying, “Okay Developers, now you test this!”
However, when done correctly by embracing the shared ownership of quality, a Developer Testing initiative can have hugely positive impacts on your SDLC’s productivity, efficiency, and quality, while simultaneously cutting costs and improving the overall customer experience. So, to ensure your organization’s Developer Testing initiative is a success, we’ve collected all of our best Developer Testing-focused content so that you have the knowledge needed to get the maximum ROI from a Developer Testing investment––before you take the first step.
Developer Testing? What is Testing and QA’s Place?
With the trend of Developers taking on more of the testing responsibility coming to the forefront of organizations’ Digital and Agile Transformations, there are important ramifications specifically for team leaders and managers. How will you manage your cross-functional Development and Test Team, train everyone to have the required skills, and ensure that none of the quality processes that were previously siloed in the QA department get lost in this transition and keep it all under budget? In other words: How do you manage the ideal balance of Tester Testing and Developer Testing? This 2-part piece aims to answer that. Part 1 will focus on common misconceptions about Developer Testing, providing insight into the Developer’s role, and examine the impact these changes will have for them. Part 2 will then focus beyond Developer Testing and will include QA functions that cannot simply be “tossed out.” Finally, part 2 will touch on the manager’s perspective. This will include things to keep in mind when embarking on a Developer Testing initiative, as well as tips for leaders looking to better equip their cross-functional teams.
The Culture Shift to Developer Testing
As we mentioned in the introduction, Developer Testing initiatives often fail because they are misunderstood by stakeholders. Like with any process change, there is a right way and a wrong way; and, when it comes to Developer Testing, success is reliant on one thing: A culture that supports it. In this 2-part piece, we will first compare and contrast “culture” and “practices,” as well as their implications and place in your organization; part 1 will examine the origins of the notion of “Developer Testing,” and answer the big question: “Is testing really a Developer’s responsibility?” Part 2 will then delve into the importance and impact that culture has on a team, and then examine cultural practices from various SDLC ideologies and how they affect the success of a Developer Testing initiative.
Webinar: Balancing Developer Testing and Tester Testing in the Modern SDLC
With the current trend of organizations fast-tracking the Digital Transformations, and along with it, their Developer Testing initiatives, many in the Software Testing field are wondering: Is there still a place for Test Teams in modern SDLCs? Michael Hackett, LogiGear Co-Founder, says YES! In this 2-part webinar, Michael will delve into this notion of Developer Testing, including how to best support your Developers’ testing, how to distribute testing work effectively in modern SDLC practices, the importance of black-box and white-box testing and their impacts on product quality, and what steps managers need to take to ensure QA is effectively merged into DevOps. Michael will also discuss the important difference between Developer Testing mindsets, particularly when it comes to “in addition to QA Testing” versus “in place of QA Testing.” Watch this webinar today to learn about the unique aspects of Developer Testing and how to properly balance your cross-functional quality team’s workload.
Honorable Mention: How to Effectively Unsilo Teams in DevOps
We decided to throw in this honorable mention because, while it’s not directly related to Developer Testing, Developer Testing has heavy roots in DevOps’ ideas of removing silos between Development and Test Teams and merging together to form one DevOps Quality Team. When it comes to silos and unsiloing, oftentimes managers fail to remove them and end up just reshuffling the silos they hoped to take down. Check out this blog post written by Michael Larsen to see how you can remove departmental silos in your organization, thus allowing your teams to embrace Developer Testing easily from the start.
Make Developer Testing Work for Your Organization
After checking out these Developer Testing best practices, hopefully, now you see why success in a Developer Testing initiative is contingent on a strong strategy. If you’re looking to bolster your Digital Transformation with a properly strategized Developer Testing initiative, LogiGear is here to help! Our QA Testing Services can help you at every stage of the SDLC, from design to development and deployment. Contact us today and see how a Developer Testing initiative can increase efficiency, streamline delivery, and reduce costs in your SDLC.
