December 2022

User Acceptance Testing

If you happen to work in software QA or development, you might have certainly heard the term “UAT sessions” multiple times nearing the end of any project. This step in QA is one of the most essential practices to give confidence to operational teams and business owners and confirm product release. We believe that software testing can only be sealed through real-life usage tests. This activity is labeled in the software testing stages as User Acceptance Testing (UAT). Q-Pros have invested lots of effort into crafting an excellent methodology to conduct healthy UAT sessions and make sure that the software is more than ready to handle end-users. This article hopes to be a clear guide to UAT and how to perform an effective user acceptance session. To start, let us define UAT - What is User Acceptance Testing (UAT)? UAT is the final seal of approval required before releasing an application out to the public. By definition – hence its name- UAT's objective is to get user acceptance by testing all aspects of the application, making sure it is fit for business demands. UAT sessions are done to measure the level of satisfaction a user has while using the application in real-time under real scenarios. It involves mimicking how an application might be used by future users/customers. UAT is the final stage of testing to make use of all the application's potential to confirm that it is ready to be released. How we perform UAT UAT sessions are conducted by a group of first-hand users, this group of users could consist of customers who are more likely to use the product or the client that this software is directed to (if the software is manufactured specifically for an organization). When conducting a UAT session, all parties involved document their feedback, preferably in the presence of the developing team and beta testers in charge of ensuring quality standards. The role of the QA teams in UAT sessions The QA team has major involvement in the UAT. The QA team must be ready to assist users on how to use the application and oversee taking notes, including on several issues that might not be visible to the users, meaning things that are of QA concern rather than simple functionality. The QA team will then take part in presenting the results to clients, and it is the clients' job to decide whether the results are in alliance with expectations. The key objectives of UAT To make certain the software is performing based on basic business requirements. To confirm Ease-of-use. We need to make sure that the system is usable by end-users. Make sure the application is aligned with legal measures. At the end of UAT, a report is drafted, this report includes valuable results. Then, meetings are arranged to determine whether the application is ready for release or not based on UAT deliverables. Agile and DevOps methods in UAT UAT sessions require an elevated level of cooperation between multiple levels of involvement, including end-users. To plan a solid UAT session, team management methodology plays a huge role. The DevOps approach emphasizes a steady relationship between both developers and operational managers. This coexistence is made feasible using the agile methodology of project management. Agile is heavily adopted in QA techniques in general as it has been proved to save time and maintain structure. As mentioned before, UAT sessions involve multiple parties, from developers, the QA team, and end-users. At the end of every UAT, feedback is collected and worked upon, and then when needed, other UAT sessions will be conducted. UAT (Alpha/Beta Testing) UAT is split into two classifications (Alpha & Beta) depending on the nature of the output being tested. Alpha testing involves testing the application in the development environment. Beta testing is carried out in the production phase when the application is ready for release. Summary User Acceptance is all-important for Quality Assurance. Understanding how your software works in a real-life environment before releasing it to one is an obvious step. Involving end-users will guarantee honesty and generate honest feedback. UAT is most beneficial when each step is documented and studied thoroughly. Based on the data generated, the developers, QA team, and clients can choose to make changes to enhance all aspects of the application based on the desired quality and business requirements. To learn more about quality assurance practices and frameworks, learn more about us and request one of our many testing services that are crafted based on requirements, business demands and standards. ...

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A Short Guide to Stability Testing

A thriving business deserves a thriving software, and we at Q-Pros believe that software testing is the key to scale up businesses and create better results for both business owners and customers/users alike. One way software testing can help extend the functionality of an application is through Stability tests. In this article, we will define what stability testing is and its many benefits. What is Stability Testing? Stability testing is a type of non-functional software testing that helps measure an application’s ability to function continuously over lengthy periods. The primary purpose of conducting stability tests is to ensure the software component does not collapse under a wide range of use over time. One way to test the efficiency of the application is to run a stability test and ensure that the application is running well under circumstances beyond the average use. The intent here is to pressure the system to check its capabilities. Why Do We Need Stability Tests? In general, software testing helps us understand how the application will run under real-life situations, and we can find out what the limitations are, and how we can avoid future bottle-neck situations. Stability tests give us the confidence to trust the system while knowing that it will maintain function even when used to the maximum. Few issues are common in newly developed applications and mostly for justified reasons that are beyond the developer’s capabilities. Stability tests serve as an identifier of such issues and make us aware of the updates and fixes we can use to overcome them. Some issues regarding performance will erupt due to heavy usage. These issues include a sudden or repetitive request on the application or having a massive amount of data being entered at once. Stability Tests Outcomes As is the case with other testing approaches, stability testing requires a lot of reporting and building for test cases. We must document a list of results and stats that include the following: Hits per second – The number of demands or hits users would request; This gives us an understanding of the load percentage over the system. Throughput – Throughput is measured in bytes. It is the amount of data that a user would receive over a fixed amount of time. Memory – This is simply to document memory usage while conducting the test. Transaction Response Times – The time it takes for the system to complete a request/response cycle as declared by the application. Response time is important to measure in general, and in stability tests, we make sure that it has the same value while the system is running under stress. CPU – CPU utilization spent while performing the test. Stability Tests Process Test planning: We start by defining a solid testing strategy, making sure to mention the objectives and milestones. Test case designs: We then create solid test cases and scenarios that can efficiently assess stability parameters. Test case review: Making sure that our test cases are validated against project requirements and technical specifications. Test execution: Perform the tests. Report results: Documenting all outcomes from executed tests to share with operational stakeholders. Tools Used for Stability Tests Several performance testing tools are suitable to test for stability. The most predominant tools used now are: LoadRunner CloudTest Apache JMeter LoadUI WebLOAD In Conclusion It is certainly the goal of any application provider or business owner to have their applications scale up and be used by as many users as possible. Stability testing is a great way to scale up software. By doing a stability test we can guarantee that an application is more than ready to face future challenges. Stability testing is part of other performance testing approaches that evaluate the system’s performance attributes and help us understand how a system would behave under fixed environments. Learn more about software testing and get to know more about us. If you want to request a testing service, check out our list of offers and request a customized testing plan for your software via our request form. ...

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Top 5 Software Quality Assurance Certifications

The field of software testing is becoming increasingly competitive every day, if you are planning to work in software QA or even if you are already working, you might want to consider getting hold of a software testing certificate. Q-Pros believes that the quality of an institution depends on the quality of its employees. That is why we pride ourselves with testing experts who are equipped with QA and software testing certifications from prestigious institutes. In this article, we will look at the top 5 software quality assurance certifications based on popularity and demand. What is a Quality Assurance Certification? A software quality assurance certification is an acknowledgment from a licensed institution to professionals in the field of software testing and QA that they have acquired and updated their set of skills in their domain. QA certifications include tests upon completion that assess and recognize members while adding to their basic knowledge. Why Are Quality Assurance Certifications Important? Acquiring QA certifications not only adds value to your resume, but it also elevates the level of quality of the entire industry. QA certifications help keep companies aligned with the latest updates in the field, delivering better quality to clients and upping the level of quality in services overall. Most QA companies encourage and sometimes demand obtaining QA certifications to assist in profiling candidates to their respected projects based on their area of expertise. It has become essential over the years for job seekers looking to obtain a position in quality assurance to be certified by a renowned organization that specializes in quality assurance and software testing training. What are the Top Software Testing Quality Assurance Certifications? There are many sources to obtain a QA certificate, they vary from one country to another and based on the standardized demands of each region. Nonetheless, having a certificate will always be a plus and would support your claim in achieving higher positions. Here are the top 5 Quality Assurance Certificates: International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) One of, if not the most prominent certifications to obtain in the field is an ISTQB certification. This board certificate is accepted internationally and is granted anywhere in the world with a universal syllabus. It is applicable on three levels, foundational, advanced, and expert. ISTQB laid the foundation and set the standards for software testers. The training program includes a heavy load of information that cover all aspects of the industry. On the foundation level, candidates would be suggested to have not less than (6) months of practical experience but with no prerequisites. The advanced level would require a foundation level certificate and practical experience while the expert level would require an advanced certification and more extensive experience, which could suggest more than (6) years of practical knowledge. Certified Test Engineer (CSTE) A CSTE certification sets the foundations and standard requirements for software quality assurance qualifications. It includes components in the basic level of IT and Quality Control (QC). CSTE brings about good career opportunities. It targets people looking to get started in business and improve their resumes. To apply for a CSTE, you must have one of the following prerequisites alongside a minimum of more than (18) months of experience: 4-year degree from a recognized college + 2 years of experience 3-year degree from a recognized college + 3 years of experience 2-year degree from a recognized college + 4 years of experience (6) years of experience in the field Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA) This certificate targets people who are more advanced than CSTE, it takes a deeper dive into Quality Control and Quality Assurance. Obtaining a CSQA certificate is conditioned to the same prerequisites as CSTE: 4-year degree from a recognized college + 2 years of experience 3-year degree from a recognized college + 3 years of experience 2-year degree from a recognized college + 4 years of experience (6) years of experience in the field And such as CSTE, CSQA requires prior experience of (18) months before applying. Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST) This certification requires no prior work experience as a prerequisite. CAST is perfect for beginners looking to take the first step on the technical side of QA and software testing. It gives candidates the chance to learn more about the foundational level of QA and QC and teaches applicants about the basic techniques used in the process. To qualify for a CAST certificate, applicants must have one of the following: 3 or 4-year degrees from are cognized college 2-year degree from are cognized college and 1+ year of experience 3 years in the field Certified Manager of Software Quality (CMSQ) This certificate is concerned with highly professional applicants who are knowledgeable of all the skills and talents of software testing and QA. CMSQ applicants are proficient managers who are able to lead QA teams and plan testing strategies. Out of all the certifications on this list, CMSQ has the most challenging conditions for applying: Candidates MUST have: CSQA Certification Currently working in the field Take a manager’s level test Candidates must also have one of the 3 prerequisites BA from an accredited college with 4 years of experience in the QA field Associate degree with 6 years of experience 8+years of experience What does a software QA manager do? QA managers play a vital role in securing quality for clients. They organize and strategize QA plans and frameworks that utilize the most out of the QA team. They also produce quality control procedures and practices that improve profitability for business owners. To learn more about Quality Assurance, learn more about us, and request a service via our online test request form. ...

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5 Ways AI is Solving Software Quality Challenges

Over the past recent years, software testing approaches became more complex to keep up with the constant advancements in software development practices and with the nature of digital services in general. As is the case in all industries, AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) are shaping up new ways to speed up the production process and assure more accurate results. So is the case with software testing. AI solutions can not only scale up the level of productivity in all aspects but also solve issues that seemed inherent and unavoidable. In this article, we will discuss 5 ways in which Leveraging AI can solve software quality challenges, and how we at Q-Pros look to adapt such practices to further enhance our services in the world of QA. #1 Data Management Challenges Data gathering and documentation are at the core of any QA process. How well we manage our data decides the level of quality we seek to achieve. One problem testing engineers have struggled with over the years was data management. The amount of data being generated from the software development phase can be enormous. This amount of data can be so huge, that it can be impossible for human brains to fathom. This data includes: Values and parameters Environment data Build Data Data production and data coverage Giving this type of data a proper and accurate analysis can only be done by leveraging AI utilities. Relying on smart AI methods can secure better results in all software development phases, specially in the testing stages. It is likely that humans might fall to errors and get overworked while trying to comprehend enormous amounts of data. One crucial factor in assuring top quality is to collect data from end-users, and by doing so, it helps the dev team decide on what should be tested based on data gatherings and test configuration and combination. Test configuration can amount to millions of potential scenarios, and data-driven tests are essential to the testing process only running this data through smart analysis allows the testing teams to narrow down the number to prioritize the most valuable tests. #2 Challenges Regarding Time Organizations are constantly looking for ways to drive the Dev-Ops process even faster, and relying on smarter methods can further drive the cycle even faster and ensure better quality at the same time. While Agile methods can result in more organized and accurate outcomes, they can also take a heavy toll on the dev team. We must produce test configurations and test, and then the dev team must make the changes and wait for another testing cycle or sprint to ensure that no further changes are needed regarding the scenario at hand. Speeding this process and ensuring the same if not better quality of results can only be done via smarter AI solutions. By analyzing quality trends and assessing code-changing risks, developers can then plan for better more efficient sprints. #3 Keeping up with mobile and app advancements With the current state of exponential growth of mobile devices and mobile application services, it is getting more and more complicated for developers and testers to keep up. Most Mobile Operating Systems (OS) come with an SDK (Source Development tools) which are used to create native programming languages that are suited for each OS and each device. This accounts for many combinations which are still unstable as things are changing fast. Leveraging AI in the testing process can simplify things and assure the inclusion of all modern updates. #4 Integration Testing Within the Agile structure, QA has become a bottleneck or a speedbump. This is because while it is an essential step, there is little that can be done when it comes to constant updates and changes, we need to constantly test with each change! And while software development is shifting more to the front-end, testing on the front-end could be fragile. That is why we need to make the most of the AI to run more integration tests. #5 Continuous Monitoring Existing new possibilities lay ahead in the world of software development, and it is only fair to extend the same level of advancements to the world of testing services. In future years, we will begin to see automated functions running in the background always analyzing every level of code. The Use of AI can help establish the foundation for such continuous progress as it is difficult for human labor to keep track of every degree of development. Cognitive Automation As mentioned, one challenge facing software testing is our need for continuous testing. Doing so allows us to confirm expected behaviors and check for any changes or anomalies. This task is better done through AI, and we could allow automated tools to adjust and customize themselves to perform this process. QA engineers must harness the benefit of AI and make use of every viable way to automate the testing process, this allows for more time for creative thinking and planning for more tests and areas to serve the overall project. The need for human intervention in software testing will always remain, the key is to adapt and collaborate with automated means, and not to eliminate one on account of the other. For as long as the software is designed to be eventually used by humans, the need for human testers will only grow more as applications are getting bigger in scales of usability. AI Testing and Shifting Left In recent years, and with the emergence of such work models like agile and DevOps, testers started shifting left, which means testing is now becoming more present in the initial stages of development. The role of AI in shifting left is that it asserts cooperation values and by doing so allows the development teams to co-exist and align better with the testing team. One way to deliver better quality to the product is to involve the testing team in more stages, such as early planning and sprint execution. Q-Pros Q-Pros is a leading IT company that provides testing services at all levels, we at Q-Pros rely on manual and automated testing methods and tools to assure the best quality for our clients. We plan and strategies testing plans custom-made and crafted for our unique clients. The role of AI is eminent, we strive to lead the way in innovation and creative testing. Read more on how we plan to leverage AI in software testing. Read more about Q-Pros and request a testing service via our online form. In Conclusion Software testing involves a set of unavoidable challenges. It comes down to either working hard or working smart; while we intend to do both, it is of extreme importance to remain on top of modern advancements. Establishing good foundations with AI and ML tools is a huge asset for software quality. Automation allows us to analyze data in real time. Through AI we gain more information from data builds, code changes, and test history, narrowing down thousands of possible configurations. By empowering the testing team through Automated tools, we receive better and quicker results. ...

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What Is the Difference Between Vulnerability Scanning and Penetration Testing

Software testing and Quality control aim to provide users with secure applications, safe from any potential hacking scenario or accidental leaks. And to accomplish this, we rely on two security testing methods: Vulnerability scanning (VS) and Penetration testing (PT). While both have a similar role in creating a stronger, more secure system by preventing any breaches/crashes that may occur in the future and threaten software security, there are specific differences that we need to investigate between the two. The Q-Pros Software QA strategy sets out to consolidate the foundation of any system to produce a better swift and secure digital experience through various methods. This article will examine the major differences between Vulnerability scanning and Penetration testing. First, let us start by defining each...

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