Implementing DevOps with the Help of QA Testing
In the DevOps scenario, the QA team integrates into the software development and testing process to ensure the seamless development of infrastructure, process smoothly, and make sure all changes function as expected.
Why is QA testing needed when implementing DevOps?
The role of DevOps is inevitable for the frequent upgrade of web app and mobile applications. However, with the integration of QA testing methodologies, the quality of the software product is ensured. Furthermore, DevOps and QA help software companies to meet the tasks required and enable overall business growth. Hence, quality assurance in software development is essential in the delivery and development cycle, in which both teams (DevOps and QA) share the responsibility.
QA Responsibilities in DevOps
QA has always been considered as a “gatekeeper” when delivering a software product. And according to experts, QA has several roles in DevOps. Following is some responsibilities of QA testing in DevOps:
- QA as a part of software quality assurance focuses on detecting bugs or problems at the starting point in the cycle and also prevents potential bugs from reappearing in the production process.
- QA ties together software development and system operations parties which allow both teams to collaborate to keep the software and application up and running.
- QA testers should highlight problems in the processes and recommend changes as soon as possible.
- The role of QA in DevOps is to make sure that all the necessary environments should be standardized and deployments automatically.
- Also, QA testers find and detect bugs and problems. Also, they perform as a software solution, which seeks opportunities to improve the product quality. As a result, the rate will be tracked at every stage.
QA steps in DevOps implementation
1. Analyze requirements — The QA team is involved in the analysis and definition of software requirements to fix bugs and prevent them at the beginning of the stage during the DevOps process. It applies to both functional and non-functional elements. Also, QA offers consistent, comprehensive, clearly marked conditions that deliver specific design tests that are tailored to the DevOps implementation.
2. Plan the tests — The test planning in DevOps implementation involves outline the types and levels of testing required, methods and tools, allocate resources and responsibilities which are essential in the software testing strategy, scope of testing, project budget.
3. Design the tests — Test cases include test inputs, execution conditions, expected results to allow QA engineers to perform a sequence of steps to ensure bug-free. Also, provide a checklist that can cover all possible actions that save time to create and implement.
4. Execute tests and report defects — Regular reports allow software developers to control the testing process. Accordingly, this step provides a better overview of the current production situation to decide on the scheduled release date.
5. Run Re-Tests and regression tests — In the implementation process, QA developers will perform regression testing after developers fix bugs to minimize new bugs in existing functionality.
QA for implementing DevOps
QA plays a strategic role — QA developers are involved from the start of the development process, which enables the new way to add value in the software lifecycle. This making
QA is a bridge between development and operations — QA plays an essential role in contributing business value. QA continues to be a catalyst to quicken time to market in the DevOps initiatives.
QA helps detect bugs earlier — The role of QA in the DevOps scenario goes beyond the traditional software development, not only seeing bugs in the development process, but the responsibility of QA testers also preventing the bugs at the starting point. In the current competitive environment, the upgraded process of mobile applications and web development can be possible without impacting the user with DevOps and QA support.
QA helps deliver the DevOps objective — The benefits of business using DevOps is undeniable because of continuous delivery and deployment, offers faster build and testing to meet the demands of the market, that DevOps can quickly deliver its core objectives through the help of QA.
Best practices for optimizing QA in DevOps environments
DevOps seeks to create faster and high-quality products that can be tough to achieve without the right approach. Following, some of the practices that QA helps DevOps to achieve the results without compromising the quality.
- Focus on continuous testing in software development: Constant testing is the most significant factor in determining the success of custom software development companies. Hence, the DevOps team can go a long way in achieving the goal faster.
- Iteratively adopt practices and tools for each DevOps stage: QA helps the DevOps team to get mature in the development processes. Also, software developers can identify the biggest constraint in the development process by iteratively tools and techniques. Whereby they can decide the quality tools to help them to overcome the difficulties.
- Automate testing in software progress: With the increase of testing volume by the QA team, which enables them to plan and execute automation strategies that reduce the risks and bugs right in time.
- Focus on the right metrics: Through test cases, data can be collected, such as why tests are failing, measure time to process, and how much time on environment setup and data creation. Hence, the QA team expectedly support the DevOps team to access the right metrics to gain the project insights and significant impacts on the business.
Final thought: DevOps and QA teams play equally crucial, aiming to deliver the end product with high quality. QA testing methodologies have become a vital part of the DevOps and even software development. Lastly, with the help of QA in DevOps performance testing, software companies can assure the quality and lower the risk as early in the process as possible.
