Software testing is a crucial part of every product development cycle. It helps to determine that the software meets expected requirements and ensures that it runs smoothly and free of defects. It involves using manual or automated tools to test software/system components to evaluate their functionality.

You might ask, “why is software testing important?” “Isn’t that extra cost incurred in product development?” Software testing is crucial because it allows the developers to rectify any errors or bugs in the production phase early enough before the product is delivered to the public. When software products are properly tested, they are reliable, secure, and reliable, which contributes to time savings, cost-effectiveness, and customer satisfaction.

Examples of Issues That May Occur When Testing Is Not Done During Product Development

However, software testing is even better when the testing is done early in the design phase. You will be able to notice irregularities much quicker and eliminate them before they become more problematic in the future. One of the common mistakes that production teams make is postponing testing to the last test before production or until after the product is developed. You may face myriad issues at this stage that hamper the product’s effectiveness.

Here are some examples of issues that may occur when testing is done during product development.

Late Detection of Bugs and Defects

It is almost impossible to create bug-free software. In every product development process, defects and bugs are inevitable. Without early detection and correction, it can become a significant risk for the business. However, we can track and minimize them with proper software development practice.

Late software testing can discover bugs and defects later in the production process, which can be more complex and time-consuming to fix. Therefore, the earlier we perform software testing, the easier it is to eliminate errors from the system.

Also, if you employ a test automation approach to review the software early in the development phase, you can maintain an effective bug report system and have an in-depth understanding of any technical difficulties and limitations. A bug report contains documentation of the testing history of the product, test results, and a description of the environment setup and configuration. In addition, a bug report can help developers and testers track which bugs have affected the product in the past and how it was rectified.

Increase in Software Testing Cost

Another problem with testing after the product is developed is increased software testing costs. “Prevention is better than cure” is a famous saying that applies to software testing. It is more challenging, more expensive, and more time-consuming to resolve defects and bugs as the product approach the end of the development cycle.

It is more cost-effective to fix bugs and defects as the product develops rather than after complete product development. For example, the Systems Sciences Institute at IBM reports that it costs six times more to fix a bug discovered during implementation than a bug found during design. It also costs fifteen times more to find and correct during the testing phase than found during design.

Lower Product Quality

Testing late can cause the release of low-quality software to the public. For instance, it may not efficiently cover the entire scope of the project, allowing some bugs and defects to slip through. This may cause the finished project to be subpar and not meet the expectation of the customers.

A famous example is Flud, a social news reader application for iOS, Android, and Windows devices. Unfortunately, the quality assurance team didn’t thoroughly test the software, so users had to deal with glitches and bugs when it was released. As a result, the application got numerous damaging reviews which harmed the company’s reputation. Even when they eventually fixed the issues, the damage to their reputation was irreversible.

From this example, we can see that early testing helps developers and testers review their software more thoroughly so that all bugs are dealt with before they release it to users.

Poor User Experience

Poor user experience is another problem that could arise when the product is tested late or not tested adequately. It causes the release of an unreliable product that cannot meet users’ expectations. This can cause users to be frustrated and dissatisfied with the product, leading to a poor user experience, and subsequently, impact the user’s trust and confidence in the product and the compact that produced it. They may even give negative reviews on the product.

Another issue that testing after the software is developed can cause is late product release. By testing late, you will require more time to deal with bugs, and bugs discovered at this stage are usually more difficult to rectify. This can lead to missed deadlines, which can delay the product’s release and prevent users from accessing its features and benefits.

Conclusion

Implementing testing processes early enough to enable developers and testers to perform more thorough software testing is more efficient. Ideally, the development workflow should prioritize testing as the developer writes the codes or before merging the code with the main development branch. This way, the testers and developers can reduce the impact of bugs in the software development process.