Have you ever encountered a software snag that leaves you frustrated? Bugs often have a habit of showing up when you least expect them, possibly due to multiple reasons. The only way to get them fixed is by reporting them effectively.
If you are having issues with your bug reporting, it can lead to developers being bewildered or misunderstanding the issue, leading to bigger bugs later.
In this blog post, we will explore the 6 common mistakes that even seasoned testers tend to make and how these can be fixed.
6 Common Bug Reporting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
1. Failing to include steps to reproduce
If you encounter a bug in a system, it is crucial to mention precisely what actions you took to encounter this. Outlining these steps is necessary to reproduce the bug and help understand ways to fix it.
To reproduce the bug, we recommend having the following information in the bug report:
- The actions you took: Clicked a button, filled out a form, scrolled down a page.
- The order of those actions: Did you do A before B, or vice versa?
- Any specific data used: The file you uploaded or the database used.
- The expected outcome: What were you supposed to see or happen?
The more detailed your steps, the easier for developers to retrace your digital footprints and apprehend the bug.
2. Being too vague in describing the bug
A common issue with manual or automation testing is using unclear terminologies to describe the issue. Most testers explain the problem using terms like “Something weird happened” or “This is not working.” This cryptic language in a bug report may lead to frustration and often leaves the developer lost.
To avoid this, make sure that your bug reports outline the following:
- Specific terms: Instead of “weird,” describe the actual issue. Does it crash? Freeze? Display the wrong information?
- Avoid technical jargon: Stick to plain language everyone can understand. Leave the developer code talk for the codebase.
- Provide context: Was the bug present on all devices? Did it happen just once or consistently?
3. Not attaching relevant files/screenshots
They say a picture tells the story better than any storyteller could, and bug reports are no different. To strengthen your case, you can include screenshots to help the developer understand which screen you encountered the error on.
These screenshots can include:
- Snapshots of error messages
- Frozen screen
- Unexpected actions
- Navigation errors
If possible, we also recommend using a screen recorder to retrace the steps and the screens where you are facing errors, providing even more clarity for the teams working on error fixing.
4. Misclassifying the bug severity
Exploratory testing can go beyond simple bug detection and understand scenarios beyond expected processes. However, testers can often make mistakes in calling out the bug and misclassifying a bug as critical, wasting precious resources and delaying the deployment or implementation.
To avoid this, evaluate the bug detected using the following factors:
- Does the bug prevent users from achieving their goals or significantly disrupt their workflow?
- Does it happen every time or just occasionally?
- Does the bug result in lost data or corrupt files?
- Does the bug expose any sensitive information or create security risks?
Depending on the risks, you should prioritise the bug as “crucial,” “high,” “medium,” or “low.”
5. Failing to assign the bug to the right person
Many testers do not correctly attribute the bug-fixing issue to the right team, and this can often mean a bug that needs intervention from UI experts getting assigned to a developer. To avoid this:
- Check the software documentation: Often, specific features or modules have designated owners.
- Consult release notes or version history: Recent changes might explain who implemented the buggy area.
- If in doubt, ask! Reach out to project managers or team leads for guidance.
6. Not testing on different environments
A program may run error-free on a particular system or platform but can run into errors on another. Testers often fail to comprehend this, leaving blind spots in your test report.
To avoid this, make sure that your bug testing includes:
- Tests on different browsers and operating systems
- Testing on multiple devices
- Testing on Wi-Fi, mobile data, and other internet connections
By testing in diverse environments, you can ensure that there are no bugs on any particular platform.
Conclusion
So there you have it! You can now create effective, clear, and actionable bug reports by addressing these common pitfalls. Remember, effective bug reporting is a collaborative effort. It may seem like a hassle to begin with, but it can help avoid any confusion or frustration later on.
FAQ
Why are bug reports important?
Bug reports act as the communication document between a tester and a developer. They help the developer understand the issue and what needs fixing, with the information of the problems faced. A well-drafted bug report ideally has the following: screenshots, detailed information on what went wrong, and clarity on what should happen instead.
Bug reports can also reveal underlying issues or problems which need a strategic outlook rather than a quick fix. For example, if the bug report reveals user experience or workflow issues, you may need to consider the overall product usability and user scenario. For this, you can work with bespoke software solutions to understand the broader context of software usage and how to align it with your user expectations to improve product usability significantly.
