3 strategies to nail integration testing
System integration testing can be used for two main purposes. It can be used to verify the continuing functional effectiveness of an existing system after the introduction of new functionality elements, or it can be used within systems that have been designed from scratch, the latter coming without the challenge of in-production testing.
This type of testing ensures that any system matches stakeholder requirements and serves as a final check for potential defects before a new system or component goes live. Therefore, it is imperative to get this step right and ensure there are no problems that might negatively affect the user experience and lead to wider problems for a business.
Much has been written about integration testing strategy. Here’s a summary of three key strategies to ensure your testing achieves its purpose.
Ensuring your test and production environments are the same
Using your production system to conduct integration testing can cause a myriad of problems, including corruption of databases, critical failures of component parts, system crashes, and much more. Even changes that might be considered minor can cause knock-on problems. Whenever possible, your testing should be conducted within a system that mirrors the one used in production. This kind of test environment ensures your team can manage functionality releases most effectively and gives them appropriate time to make any changes to the delivery approach.
Establishing a triage process for identified issues
In addition to setting up a repository of repeated issues, a successful issue triage process will also include a triage delivery schedule and an identified owner for each issue. This can assist you in cases where there are competing demands between stakeholders and project delivery plans whilst ensuring the highest-priority issues receive the most attention.
Utilising automated reporting
Whilst stakeholders can try to assist in project delivery, a seemingly easy question about the output of the day’s testing can take significant manpower to answer. Automated software testing services such as https://www.bugfinders.com/ can significantly ease this burden by delivering the benefit of extensive experience in software testing services and helping you focus on solving priority issues.
Delivering system integration testing on large projects with complex requirements can also be testing for those involved. Familiarising yourself with these three key strategies will help you develop a solid testing process that delivers for both you and your project.
