Software testing tools and techniques
Learn how testing and QA teams can find the right tools, frameworks and platforms for their software development techniques. Gain insights into what to look for in the abundance of testing tools and practices available.
Top Stories
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News
11 Oct 2024
Buildkite: CI/CD pipelines still a job for app developers
In an era of platform engineering, Buildkite and its high-scale users maintain that CI/CD pipelines and testing should remain the purview of app developer teams. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Sep 2024
CI/CD pipelines explained: Everything you need to know
CI/CD can transform an organization, but there's a lot to consider. This comprehensive guide explains the CI/CD pipeline stages, benefits and challenges, best practices and more. Continue Reading
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Definition
23 Oct 2024
What is integration testing (I&T)?
Integration testing -- also known as integration and testing or I&T -- is a type of software testing in which the different units, modules or components of a software application are tested as a combined entity. Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Oct 2024
What is alpha testing?
Alpha testing is the initial phase of validating whether a new product will perform as expected. Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Oct 2024
What is acceptance testing?
Acceptance testing is a quality assurance (QA) process that determines to what degree an application meets end users' approval. Continue Reading
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Definition
17 Oct 2024
What is happy path testing?
Happy path testing is a type of software testing that uses known input and produces an expected output. Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2024
Buildkite: CI/CD pipelines still a job for app developers
In an era of platform engineering, Buildkite and its high-scale users maintain that CI/CD pipelines and testing should remain the purview of app developer teams. Continue Reading
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Definition
11 Oct 2024
What is black box testing?
Black box testing assesses a system solely from the outside, without the operator or tester knowing what's happening within the system to generate responses to test actions. Continue Reading
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Definition
23 Sep 2024
What is finite element analysis (FEA)?
Finite element analysis (FEA) is the process of simulating the behavior of an object or assemblage of objects when it's exposed to specified physical conditions, which can be stable or varying. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Sep 2024
CI/CD pipelines explained: Everything you need to know
CI/CD can transform an organization, but there's a lot to consider. This comprehensive guide explains the CI/CD pipeline stages, benefits and challenges, best practices and more. Continue Reading
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Definition
05 Sep 2024
What is machine code (machine language)?
Machine code, also known as ‘machine language’ or ‘native code,’ is the elemental language of computers. It is read by the computer’s central processing unit (CPU), is composed of digital binary numbers and looks like a very long sequence of zeros and ones. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Aug 2024
UX design principles: Why should testers know them?
Usability is key to the success of an application. Learn what developers and testers should look for to optimize usability and maximize the business value of an application. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Aug 2024
Speed vs. quality in software testing: Can you have both?
Testing can slow development and quick releases can come at the price of quality. Teams should not have to choose. Learn to efficiently pursue quality in development and testing. Continue Reading
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Opinion
14 Aug 2024
Software testing lessons learned from the CrowdStrike outage
After the recent CrowdStrike outage, organizations are keen to prevent and prepare for potential future disruptions. These key security and quality lessons can help. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Aug 2024
What is quality assurance (QA)?
Quality assurance (QA) is any systematic process of determining whether a product or service meets specified requirements. Continue Reading
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Definition
09 Aug 2024
What is static application security testing (SAST)?
Static application security testing (SAST) is the process of analyzing and testing application source code for security vulnerabilities. Continue Reading
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Definition
09 Aug 2024
What is shift-right testing?
Shift-right testing is a method of continuously testing software while it is in a post-production environment. Continue Reading
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Definition
09 Aug 2024
What is software resilience testing?
Software resilience testing is a method of software testing that focuses on ensuring that applications perform well in real-life or chaotic conditions. Continue Reading
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News
07 Aug 2024
CloudBees buys co-founder's AI test automation tools startup
Jenkins creator Kohsuke Kawaguchi rejoins CloudBees as co-CEO of Launchable, which aims to stem the tide of AI-generated code with AI-driven test optimization. Continue Reading
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Definition
07 Aug 2024
What is offshore software testing?
Offshore software testing is a software development model where an organization outsources the software testing process to a service partner team located in a different country and time zone. Continue Reading
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Video
06 Aug 2024
OpenAPI, Swagger and Spring Boot REST APIs
It's easy to integrate Swagger into your Spring Boot apps with SpringDoc's OpenAPI starter. Code generation, documenting REST APIs and testing endpoints has never been easier. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Aug 2024
How to put CI, CT and CD together in a DevOps pipeline
DevOps pipelines aren't just about CI/CD. Learn why continuous testing is a crucial piece of the puzzle and how it ultimately results in cleaner code with fewer errors. Continue Reading
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Definition
01 Aug 2024
What is dynamic application security testing (DAST)?
Dynamic application security testing (DAST) is the process of analyzing a web application in runtime to identify security vulnerabilities or weaknesses. Continue Reading
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Definition
31 Jul 2024
What is API testing? Everything you need to know
API testing is a type of software testing that analyzes an application programming interface (API) to verify that it fulfills its expected functionality, security, performance and reliability. Continue Reading
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Definition
31 Jul 2024
What is continuous integration (CI)?
Continuous integration (CI) is a software development practice in which frequent and incremental changes are routinely added (integrated) to the complete codebase immediately after the changes and additions are tested and validated. Continue Reading
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News
26 Jul 2024
CrowdStrike outage underscores software testing dilemmas
Experts say efforts to avoid incidents such as last week's CrowdStrike outage will face time-honored tradeoffs between velocity, stability, access and security. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Jul 2024
Guide to synthetic test data
Synthetic data can replicate real-world scenarios in software testing. Discover how synthetic data addresses challenges posed by real-world data while preserving its advantages. Continue Reading
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Opinion
25 Jul 2024
CrowdStrike disaster exposes a hard truth about IT
Growing third-party dependencies mean more CrowdStrike-like disasters ahead. Preventing these requires a commitment to quality from vendors and robust backup plans from users. Continue Reading
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Definition
12 Jul 2024
test-driven development (TDD)
Test-driven development (TDD), also called test-driven design, is a software programming method that interlaces unit testing, programming and refactoring on source code. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Jul 2024
Requirements vs. user stories in software development
User stories fulfill the same purpose as software requirements but through different means. Learn how to write user stories and how they relate to software requirements. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jun 2024
Cypress vs. Playwright: When to use each
Cypress and Playwright stand out as notable options among the many automated testing tools available. Learn how to make an informed choice between them. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 May 2024
Understanding and implementing the software testing pyramid
Frameworks such as the software testing pyramid help developers implement Agile core values. Learn how the testing pyramid helps teams prioritize test type frequency. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Apr 2024
Positive vs. negative testing: Differences and examples
Take an in-depth look at positive and negative testing. Learn how to use both to form the basis of a thorough testing approach through a series of real-world examples. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Apr 2024
fault injection testing
Fault injection testing is a software testing method that deliberately introduces errors to a system to ensure it can withstand and recover from error conditions. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Apr 2024
staging environment
A staging environment (stage) is a nearly exact replica of a production environment for software testing. Continue Reading
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Definition
26 Apr 2024
cross-browser testing
Cross-browser testing, also called browser testing, is a quality assurance (QA) process that checks whether a web-based application, site or page functions as intended for end users across multiple browsers and devices. Continue Reading
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Definition
25 Apr 2024
soak testing
Soak testing is a type of performance testing that gauges how an application handles a growing number of users or increasingly taxing tasks over an extended period of time. Continue Reading
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Definition
24 Apr 2024
spike testing
Spike testing is a type of performance testing in which an application receives a sudden and extreme increase or decrease in load. Continue Reading
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News
02 Apr 2024
GitHub Actions-hosted runners tie in Azure private networks
Private network support is also planned for AWS and Google Cloud Platform, but industry watchers see a power play for Microsoft Azure in GitHub Actions updates this week. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Mar 2024
Testing generative AI apps
With generative AI apps rising in popularity, QA professionals should be aware of their unique failure modes. Learn what testers need to consider when handling these tools. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Mar 2024
Summit speakers break down new era of developing software
Top thought leaders discuss their strategies to choose the right software development process and to best utilize AI and ML in this comprehensive BrightTALK summit. Continue Reading
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Definition
13 Mar 2024
headless browser
A headless browser is a web browser without a graphical user interface (GUI). Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Mar 2024
Understanding code linting techniques and tools
Linting is an important preliminary step in the debugging process. Learn how fixing simple errors early on makes code easier to work with and improves coding practices. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Feb 2024
The importance of edge case testing: When to fix the bug
While edge cases in software testing only affect a small subset of users, testing for them is still important. Learn which edge fixes are worth making and which can be ignored. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Jan 2024
Top observability tools for 2024
Observability tools can help developers and IT administrators improve application delivery, performance, customer experience and troubleshooting. Continue Reading
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Definition
11 Jan 2024
Java compiler
A Java compiler is a program that takes the text file work of a developer and compiles it into a platform-independent Java file. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Dec 2023
Conduct load tests with JMeter on Kubernetes
Apache JMeter and other load-testing tools can be used with Kubernetes to conduct stress tests to see how well an app performs in specific scenarios. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Dec 2023
Don't neglect API functional testing
APIs are how applications connect to a database, partner servers and integrated applications. Testing their efficacy is an essential QA task for every software team. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Dec 2023
What to know about Python load testing
It's a nice problem to have when an application is so popular it's in danger of failing from too many customers accessing it at once. Be sure you are ready to meet that demand. Continue Reading
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News
11 Dec 2023
Docker adds shift-left tests in AtomicJar Testcontainers buy
Docker stressed its commitment to maintaining the Testcontainers open source project at a time when shift-left testing has become a mainstream priority for enterprise developers. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Dec 2023
How boundary value analysis boosts test efficiency
Boundary value analysis provides multiple benefits, including increased test coverage and proactive defect prevention. It's a simple way to improve test efficiency. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Dec 2023
citizen development
Citizen development is a business process that encourages non-IT-trained employees to become software developers, using IT-sanctioned low-code/no-code (LCNC) platforms to create business applications. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Nov 2023
The dos and don'ts of scalability testing
Effective scalability testing helps to evaluate customer experience, protect against major failures and safeguard an organization's reputation. Here's how to set a strategy. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Nov 2023
Docker vs. OpenShift: What are the main differences?
Docker and OpenShift have their strengths and weaknesses, and the choice between the two depends on the specific needs of your application and organization. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Oct 2023
Compare Ansible vs. Docker use cases and combinations
Ansible and Docker play particular roles. Used together, Ansible's playbooks and Docker's Dockerfiles provide greater control and configurability over servers. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Oct 2023
The benefits and limitations of headless browser testing
Headless browsers offer efficient web UI testing but lack the visual debugging capabilities of traditional browsers, making assessing the app's state upon test failure challenging. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Oct 2023
Best practices for automated end-to-end testing
Advanced end-to-end testing can save a company time and money, but it isn't easy to implement. Let's look at some of the important elements of test design. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Oct 2023
Is continuous testing in DevOps worth the effort?
Continuous testing isn't simple to implement, but it can add exceptional business value to software development when done right. Here are the key elements. Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2023
Exec: Key new HashiCorp Terraform feature enabled by BSL
HashiCorp Terraform Stacks will be available in the free Community Edition in part due to development funded by its recent license change, one company official says. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Sep 2023
How to test a predictive model
Strategies for testing predictive models and analytics emphasize data quality, real-time testing and code redundancy, as well as AI and machine learning integration. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Sep 2023
How to develop a test data management strategy
Effective test data management in app development involves defining appropriate data, using activity diagrams to see how the code will perform, and protecting sensitive information. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Aug 2023
The importance of Kubernetes vulnerability scanning
New to containerization and Kubernetes? Here's what the dev team should know about container image scanning, container file scanning and Kubernetes manifest scanning. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Aug 2023
5 essential best practices for QA teams to adopt
Performing QA duties properly should mean more than checking lists of basic application requirements. Here are five ways software QA teams can improve review processes all around. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Aug 2023
shift-left testing
Shift-left testing is a software testing approach in which the code is tested in the earlier stages of the software development lifecycle (SDLC). Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Aug 2023
The need to demystify software testing for developers
With how quickly demands for functionality can change in today's dynamic application environments, the case for developers to learn core testing skills could be stronger than ever. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jul 2023
How to make use of specification-based test techniques
Specification-based techniques can play a role in efficient test coverage. Choosing the right techniques can ensure thorough coverage, while eliminating redundancy. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jul 2023
The dangers of Python import and how enterprises can be safe
The Python import statement carries a security risk that developers and enterprises need to watch out for. Here's how it works and why there's no easy fix. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jul 2023
How to make use of specification-based test techniques
Specification-based techniques can play a role in efficient test coverage. Choosing the right techniques can ensure thorough coverage, while eliminating redundancy. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Jul 2023
The basics of implementing an API testing framework
With an increasing need for API testing, having an efficient test strategy is a big concern for testers. How can teams evaluate what framework strategy is the right match? Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Jun 2023
The potential of ChatGPT for software testing
ChatGPT can help software testers write tests and plan coverage. How can teams anticipate both AI's future testing capabilities and the security concerns that come with it? Continue Reading
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Feature
21 Jun 2023
How AI changes quality assurance in tech
AI and automation have become more commonplace across business processes. In the tech industry, for example, the use of both can enhance quality assurance. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Jun 2023
garbage in, garbage out (GIGO)
Garbage in, garbage out, or GIGO, refers to the idea that in any system, the quality of output is determined by the quality of the input. Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2023
AWS shuffles DevSecOps deck with CodeGuru Security SAST
A new DevSecOps service links AWS security code scanning to third-party pipeline tools, potentially a shot at GitHub Copilot that increases overlap with AWS SAST partners. Continue Reading
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Definition
02 Jun 2023
automated testing
Automated testing is a software testing technique that automates the process of validating the functionality of software and ensures it meets requirements before being released into production. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 May 2023
How to gradually incorporate AI in software testing
While some software teams may find themselves wary to weave AI into their software testing routines, a gradual introduction of AI-based testing strategies could be worth the effort. Continue Reading
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Definition
01 May 2023
unit testing
Unit testing is a software development process in which the smallest testable parts of an application, called units, are individually scrutinized for proper operation. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Apr 2023
A few simple strategies to reduce software test redundancy
While comprehensive test coverage is a must, software teams must make conscious efforts to keep suites from becoming overpopulated with hampering numbers of redundant test cases. Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Apr 2023
reliability, availability and serviceability (RAS)
Reliability, availability and serviceability (RAS) is a set of related attributes that must be considered when designing, manufacturing, purchasing and using a computer product or component. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Apr 2023
How to develop an API test automation strategy
A suite of automated API tests can set up an application for success but only if QA teams determine the right tests to automate and implement them correctly. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Apr 2023
How to balance data access and security in fintech testing
Using real data is beneficial in software testing -- but teams must be careful not to compromise security and privacy. Six core strategies for fintech testing can help. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Mar 2023
reliability of computers
Reliability is an attribute of any computer-related component -- software, hardware or a network, for example -- that consistently performs according to its specifications. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Mar 2023
Test frameworks and examples for unit testing Python code
Unit testing is a crucial aspect of software development. Teams can adopt Python for unit testing to optimize Python's advantages and built-in framework options. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Mar 2023
The attributes of an effective database testing strategy
Teams need to implement a proper database testing strategy to optimize results. Explore effective database testing attributes here. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Mar 2023
system testing
System testing, also referred to as system-level testing or system integration testing, is the process in which a quality assurance (QA) team evaluates how the various components of an application interact together in the full, integrated system or application. Continue Reading
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Definition
13 Mar 2023
Testing as a Service (TaaS)
Testing as a service (TaaS) is an outsourcing model in which testing activities associated with some of an organization's business activities are performed by a service provider rather than in-house employees. Continue Reading
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Definition
09 Mar 2023
end-to-end testing
End-to-end (E2E) testing is a software testing methodology that verifies the working order of a software product in a start-to-finish process. Continue Reading
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Definition
09 Mar 2023
performance testing
Performance testing is a testing measure that evaluates the speed, responsiveness and stability of a computer, network, software program or device under a workload. Continue Reading
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Definition
07 Mar 2023
fuzz testing (fuzzing)
Fuzz testing (fuzzing) is a quality assurance technique used to discover coding errors or bugs and security loopholes in software, operating systems and networks. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Mar 2023
What details to include on a software defect report
Teams that can write clear and detailed defect reports will increase software quality and reduce the time needed to fix bugs. Here's what to know about getting reports right. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Feb 2023
How to run an ADA-compliant website test
Digital accessibility benefits both developers and website users alike. By following WCAG guidelines and using testing tools, teams can ensure that their websites are ADA-compliant. Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2023
Azure Load Testing now GA with new speed, security options
Microsoft's Azure Load Testing rolls out with new features to create fast load tests, securely push code to test environments and monitor test performance during the run. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Jan 2023
4 critical API caching practices all developers should know
API caching can increase the performance and response time of an application, but only if it's done right. Learn about some of the caching tools and techniques worth implementing. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jan 2023
Make the shift-left testing approach work for your team
Developers test to find defects and correct flaws before an application reaches release. But the ever-quickening pace of development puts pressure on testing. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Jan 2023
How to validate a Kubernetes manifest
Dev teams must validate Kubernetes manifests. Developers can navigate validation and issues that arise with the help of native and third-party tools and other coding methods. Continue Reading
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Definition
21 Dec 2022
hotfix
A hotfix is code -- sometimes called a patch -- that fixes a bug in a product. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Dec 2022
Tools and techniques to test Kubernetes objects
Kubernetes manifests and objects represent the baseline of code development on the platform. Here's why and how to test these integral elements of Kubernetes. Continue Reading
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Definition
08 Dec 2022
Hofstadter's law
Hofstadter's law states that a project always takes longer than expected, even when the law is taken into account. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Nov 2022
debugging
Debugging, in computer programming and engineering, is a multistep process that involves identifying a problem, isolating the source of the problem and then either correcting the problem or determining a way to work around it. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Nov 2022
Who writes acceptance criteria?
Product owners are usually responsible for acceptance criteria. But everyone who has a say in the final product should be involved in the process. Continue Reading
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Definition
04 Nov 2022
NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology)
NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) is a nonregulatory government agency located in Gaithersburg, Md. Continue Reading
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News
28 Oct 2022
For API security to succeed, devs need integrated tooling
For greater API security and clearer boundaries for developers, experts at API World called for developer-focused security tools that dovetail seamlessly into their workflows. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Oct 2022
An overview of data-driven API testing
API testing -- including data-driven API testing -- differs from other software tests in its overall process and relevant metrics. Analytics and automation play a key role. Continue Reading