As software development thrives and evolves, testing needs to grow alongside it to be reliable and help the industry even more. And while we have come a long way from manually testing every part of the code for mistakes, it is key to keep up with the demand and meet the needs of the software development.
The biggest software testing challenges
Before we move on to the trends that are expected to shake up the development practices next year, I should mention some of the biggest challenges that testing has been met with.
Inefficient communication
As a part of a bespoke software development company, communication is always something that needs to be done carefully and successfully. Any miscommunications can easily turn into weeks of incorrect work in terms of approach. However, communication is hardly a challenge for outsourcing companies alone. In all projects, testing can be challenging, when it comes to misunderstandings and miscommunications. The project being passed from developers to QA testers with scarce documentation has been a cause of issues from the beginning of the industry.
Lack of complete development and testing procedures
The lack of documentation on the project, testing procedures are set and vary from company to company. For the most part, they have worked out and helped with the development there is much more to be desired, in terms of setting up fairly universal rules for how it needs to be handled. While the methods should be fairly custom to fit the project the best, having a structure at least in terms of documentation is key, in order for many people to be able to work on the same project.
What are the software testing trends for 2020
1. Big data testing will take a surge
The sheer volume of data that needs to be processed is higher than ever. Not to mention the diverse data types that enterprises across industries continue to demand and use. This calls for effective testing methods that can cover all of the requirements. This is expected to make better optimization decisions while focusing on accuracy in data validation and it is also expected to help target the market with a better strategy.
2. Agile will require rapid testing
Agile demands speed, accuracy, and flexibility to meet the industry’s demand for production rates, however, speed cannot be obtained by sacrificing quality. A product is simply not marketable if it is lacking in functionality and performance. So rapid testing, quick and on-point communication along with a tight schedule will be expected from the testing teams.
3. Increasing part of testing will be automated
There has been a lot of discussions on the true impact that Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence will have on testing practices. The bet is that more and more of the process will become automated by performing tests at a high-speed and making sure that actions are not repeated. Additionally, it is expected that automation will be a tool in the toolbox of QA specialists, rather than the only method that is relied upon. It will assist the process rather than take over. If applied correctly it will be invaluable in achieving faster release cycles, higher quality, and quicker ROI.
4. More software testing tools will be open source
Every year more and more unknown technology is implemented and hits the market, and this is only expected to grow. There will be more and more mobile apps that will be helpful to use on a daily basis, and the need for testing will be higher than ever. This allows for an opening for people that work as freelancers and create open-source tools. Not to mention optimized tools that make the testing process easier to meet the rising demand. That being said, testers would have much better chances of scoring the desired position in a software development company. And if not – they will have options to pursue other revenues, from freelancing to developing open-source projects.
5. IoT testing will transform
Mobile devices are taking over the market, with an expectancy of 20 billion devices to be connected by 2020. This opens up for an expansion of the mobile development industry, that in turn brings with itself a hunger for IoT testing strategies. This may vary from operating systems to hardware testing and assisting mobile application development. Another main point for testing will be compatibility, upgrading performance. Not to mention security and exploring different approaches that have not been used yet, aiming to revolutionize the mobile market.
6. New key focus: security and user experience
With the rapid growth of the industry, there is always the concern for the security of all the data that is being imported to various applications. And while this is hardly a new trend, security will be a top priority for enterprises to meet. So security testing is definitely at high demand, to optimize the protection on apps, network and any other system that is used on both mobile devices and computers. Security features are also competitive factors that differentiate between products. Especially when protecting sensitive or critical data end-users may be importing.
What is a testing trend that you believe belongs in this list?
While many upcoming trends made it on this list, we hope there is more to be expected from testing over the next year. What do you think is one that should be implemented and become a long-term testing practice? What do you think is a trend that would surprise employees working in the industry?
You are welcome to add to the discussion in the comments below.
