What Are The Roadblocks Of Software Testing, And How To Fix Them?

If you’re working as a software tester or have worked in the field for some time, you’ve probably encountered situations that hinder your productivity and effectiveness as a software tester. It could be due to a common issue like not having sufficient time or resources to complete testing, or it may be due to working with colleagues and coworkers who aren’t aware of the significance of the work you do. This article compiles some of the most common hurdles that a software tester may face in their life and also sheds light on solutions to overcome them.

• Lack of testing ideas

One of the most common difficulties that a software tester can run into while testing for a project is tester’s block syndrome, where the tester cannot find new bugs and defects in the software. Being a tester, you must have had this roadblock several times during your career where you didn’t know what test to do and how?

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How to overcome this roadblock?

• Pair testing: You can use Pair testing to your advantage to come up with tests that appear to be drained when you test them on your own. Pair testing is an approach to testing where two testers work together to evaluate the software being tested.
• BCA (Brute Cause Analysis): Testers can use this brainstorm-based technique that is unique to the test in which one tester considers bugs while another tester is thinking of all the possible ways in which the bug could occur.
• Think Outside of the box: Instead of thinking about the feature/function/application in front of you, try thinking in opposite directions. Step back and review the situation. Are you trying to test functionality, but you had no ideas? What about load, performance as well as stress tests? What about tests that involve structures, data, platforms, and devices, browsers, and operations?
• Missing the testing goal: Another difficulty frequently faced by a software tester is when he misses the testing goal. Any new update or feature that is not tested properly is open to defects that can degrade the UI experience of the customers.

How to overcome this roadblock?

• Ask relevant questions: The importance of excellent questioning skills cannot be overemphasized if you are planning to become an effective tester. This skill could help you when you’re in a circumstance like the above. It’s fine to admit that you don’t know something and then have it clarified rather than admit it and continue to be ignorant for all of your life.
• Brainstorm: After asking all the right questions and noting them, it is the perfect time to bring your testing team together and brainstorm ideas for many possible testing strategies, test concepts, plans, etc., for this test by putting together the ideas that pop up from the team members.
• Read the fine print: More often than not, when you begin working on a brand new product or technology, or tools, there is an amount of documentation for the same subject to assist you in getting started. But, one word of caution: take anything you read with some salt. I’m not suggesting that you don’t go through them. But if you do, you should be aware of all the things that may not be described in words but could be implied. Sometimes, being proactive in finding and deciphering these messages in the documents of the project can assist you tremendously in better understanding the test goal.
• Inattentional Blindness: How often did you miss an obvious flaw or defect, or error there on your screen, looking right at you? And yet you didn’t notice it because you were checking off other items on the checklist of tests or running the test case documentation? Such situations can be extremely embarrassing not only because you failed to notice something so simple and easy to spot but also because it occurred in the midst of diligently studying the test case to look for similar problems to the ones above!

How to overcome this roadblock?

• Stop blindly following the tests and test Matrix: Before starting using a test case, always be sure to ask yourself these questions. Then, you can adjust your test cases to include any gaps in the links.

1. “Why is this test case important? “- “What are the aspects that are covered in this case? What is not covered?”
2. “What portion of the product functionality does this test case cover?”
3. “Can this test case be tested in any other methods or ways? If yes, how? “

• Change the focal length of your Testing Methodology: When following the test cases and the test matrix to evaluate something, keep an open eye for any other issues occurring during the test’s execution. Look into other test areas even if they’re not listed in your test matrix or test case. 

Final thoughts:

Because of the inherent nature of the complexity of modern contemporary software and communications systems, software testing is becoming more and more complex. This means that more effective and efficient methods, testing heuristics, and techniques must be developed. If you’re not developing quickly enough as a tester, then the risk of failing is astronomical, and you must be prepared for the occasional failure. As long as you’re taking your lessons from the past, enhancing your test abilities, and updating your testing methods to account for these mistakes to ensure they do not occur again, you’ll be in good shape.

Looking for a software testing company to outsource your testing requirements? We got your back! At TFT, our team of highly skilled and experienced manual testers has a strong foundation in most of the testing methodologies which allows them to detect and find the smallest bugs. 

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