Complex software operations require efficient testing efforts. Well, if your goal is to keep your users happy, that’s what you’re supposed to do anyway. So what do you do if you like to keep your users happy and have significant software operations? You turn towards test case management.
But what does that mean, exactly? What is test case management, and how do you go about it? To understand all that, let’s begin with the basics first.
Understanding Test Cases
First and foremost, it’s essential to get to grips with three concepts that slightly vary from one another and look at what solutions they provide.
Test Scenario: Answers the question, “what goals do your users have with the application?”
Test Case: Answers the question, “what discrete activities make up the users’ goals?”
Test Script: Answers the question, “How exactly do I execute said discrete activity?”
With the differences instilled in mind, you can trace a precise relationship sequence between the three. The requirements brief you on what the software is supposed to do. Test scenarios follow and define a way for confirming the condition. Test cases come after and describe the component pieces required for establishing the requirement. And, finally, you have test scripts (whether automated or manual) that tell you exactly how to execute that component piece.
Challenges of Test Case Management
If all you’re programming is 4-5 lines of code instructed to read “Hello World,” then test cases aren’t on the plan for you. And naturally, you can chuck the idea of test case management too out of the proverbial window. The same can be applied to the early developmental phases of many projects too. As the software begins to accumulate more and more features, the complexity of the overall application would far exceed the natural comprehension skills most developers and testers possess.
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Think of the “boiling frog” analogy here. The water (code) gradually increases in temperature, and the frog (testers) are alright for a while. Still, before they know it, the entire application becomes too much of a mess for any testing methods to prove worthwhile.
The problem with test case management is that it doesn’t scale well if you try to begin from a history of just launching the application and making sure that things look right. Very soon, you’d start to realize how important it would’ve been to keep track of previous tests in detail. Most businesses learned this the hard way. This is because keeping track of previous tests is a difficult job. You have to consider placing unique identifiers to avoid mixing up, adding additional context to difficulties, tracing relevant requirements to avoid testing for things that aren’t relevant, and so much more.
Test Case Management Tools are Crucial
For the reasons above alone, test case management tools have become indispensable for most software testing firms. Today, these programs come with all sorts of integrations, features, and exciting capabilities to enable better management. But maybe the most critical part is also the simplest one. You know right from the get-go about the information you need to capture and track with data fields. As soon as you boot up the program, you’ll have the entire list of the information required from you.
Test case management tools also provide you with the means necessary to easily capture, store, track, and search for this information. We’ve come a long way from using spreadsheets and collaborative tools like Sharepoint to get a similar job done, but while these were serviceable in their own right, they weren’t designed for this use case in mind. Eventually, you have QA testers micromanage their data and end up with less time for testing.
Certain things have become commonplace and universal in software development. Just as how you wouldn’t design a bug tracking software or test automation tool like Selenium Automation from scratch, you wouldn’t manage your test cases utilizing programs ill-suited to the task.
Best Test Management Tools You Should Be Using
1. Kualitee
Regardless of where you are managing your existing tests, Microsoft Excel or otherwise, Kualitee Test Management Tool makes your testing a breeze and ensures greater team collaboration. The program boasts a clean, intuitive, and friendly interface and dashboard, offers requirement planning, has special tracking features, custom bug reports, and 3rd party integrations. You can also assign tasks to your testing team easily and always stay on top of live progress.
The program’s price is affordable and flexible so that it suits all sizes of teams ranging from single testers to businesses with triple-digit employees.
2. Zephyr Scale
Zephyr Scale is an easy-to-use and flexible test case management tool and needs only minimal effort to get started. It offers tight integration with Jira, and Zephyr has its test entities not based on Jira Issue types. This makes the program an excellent option for companies with strict audit trail requirements as it supports endless customization and standardization.
Customers also have various options to scale their testing with the help of advanced reusability features like shared steps, test data, and parameters. The management tool also has a 30-day free trial, so you can try it before you buy. If a scalable and performant test management solution inside Jira is what you need, then Zephyr Scale is worth a closer look.
3. PractiTest
PractiTest is a SaaS end-to-end management tool with an advanced set of tools but a steeper learning curve. The QA management tool makes it easy for testers to focus on quality and their actual work by providing greater efficiency and visibility. PractiTest’s dashboards and reports set a new standard of data intelligence. You can use their customizable and unique filters to organize your requirements efficiently, create & run tests (Automated, Scripted, and Exploratory), generate reports, and track bugs.
It also offers seamless integration with JIRA and various automation tools such as Selenium and Jenkins, etc. Their API can also ensure further customizing for any other process needs. It is also the only SOC2 Type 2 and ISO 27001 compliant test management tool, making PractiTest the most secured QA system in the market.
Regardless of which option you go for, test case management tools are the foundation of modern testing approaches. It’s advisable to go through all the features of these tools before selecting the best one that suits your company’s unique requirements.
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