Testing in agile isn't just a step; it's a core philosophy. If you're still seeing testing as an afterthought, you're missing the point. Agile testing best practices helps embed quality directly into your core processes, focusing on immediate feedback from day one to better shape your product. It's about continuous, rapid improvement, not just finding bugs. 

What makes agile testing tick? 

Agile thrives on iterative progress, constant feedback, and adaptability. This dynamic environment demands a testing approach that keeps pace. That's why agile testing thrives on continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD). 

• CI means developers merge code daily, catching conflicts fast. 
• CD ensures every tested change is production-ready, driving confidence and consistency. 

This continuous cycle allows agile teams to rapidly identify flaws, incorporate feedback, and deliver value. 

The core principles of agile software testing 

Agile software testing operates on a set of clear, actionable principles: 

• Early and continuous: Test from the start; test constantly. 
• Whole team approach: Quality is everyone's responsibility. 
• Frequent deliveries: Regular releases for constant feedback. 
• Close collaboration: Teamwork over silos. 
• Customer involvement: Active customer participation shapes the product. 
• Working software: Functionality always trumps documentation. 
• Flexibility: Be prepared to adapt to changing requirements. 

How agile testing happens 

Agile testing isn't a separate phase; it's interwoven throughout development. A prime example is test-driven development (TDD). In TDD, unit tests are written before the code. These tests define requirements and verify functionality from the outset, ensuring code is built with quality in mind, proactively addressing issues. 

The agile testing software development lifecycle (SDLC) is an iterative cycle: 

• Planning: Determine testable features and necessary tests for the sprint. 
• Execution: Run tests. 
• Tracking: Monitor results and defects. 
• Closure: Review outcomes and address remaining defects. 

This continuous feedback loop allows teams to adapt quickly and maintain high standards. 

Why agile testing matters 

It's simple: Agile testing ensures software genuinely meets customer needs. The continuous feedback loop fosters constant improvement and facilitates early defect detection, saving significant time and resources. It's about building the right product, efficiently. 

Agile testing best practices: Your blueprint for success 

To excel in agile testing and truly engineer quality into your software, focus on these critical practices: 

• Automate aggressively: Speed up testing, increase coverage. 
• Implement automated defect tracking: Quickly source, track, and mitigate bugs. 
• Embrace CI/CD: Ensure frequent, thoroughly tested changes ready for deployment. 
• Communicate constantly: Agile teams thrive on communication; collaboration is key. 

Automate agile testing with OpenText 

Agile testing is critical for delivering high-quality software. By deploying an effective agile testing strategy, you can

• Find and resolve defects quickly. 
• Receive crucial feedback for continual iterations. 
• Release dynamic products that achieve remarkable results. 

OpenText™ Software Delivery Management empowers you to automate agile testing, enabling efficient test case creation, execution, and defect tracking, providing state-of-the-art best practices for

• Agile and DevOps work management. 
• Team backlog management.
• Releases and sprints.
• Pipeline management.
• Dashboards and insights.

Ready to elevate your testing and software quality management to the next level? 

Request a demo of OpenText Software Delivery Management today!

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