With technology continuously evolving, the test management tool area is also changing. The world is shifting to a more digitalized approach. New trends are coming into the industry, and IT teams are interested in following them. Lately, there have been more updates in program testing, development, and design.
All developers want to provide the best products for clients. To do this, they must make sure to use new and better methods to keep the apps free of errors. Here are some of the latest trends in terms of test case management tooloptions.
1. Regression Testing
One of the newest trends in test management tools is regression testing. This method is used when a new feature has been added to a piece of software or when the program was changed in some way. The goal is to make sure that the app still has the expected performance even following the updates.
It’s an especially important type of test that should be performed when multiple changes are being made to a program.
2. Artificial Intelligence Testing
We’ve seen artificial intelligence taking over multiple areas, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it also joins the world of testing. Now, while it’s not unheard of to use machine learning and artificial intelligence in software testing, we’re still in the very early stages of their application.
These practices keep developing in order to offer better test data, test scripts, and test cases.
3. Microservices Testing
Another thing that is becoming quite common in testing is microservices testing. This is an aspect of the CI/CD field. It aims to offer developers the ability to create software as an autonomous services group formed around a specific domain belonging to a business.
Specialists will then be able to test every single service and piece and keep an eye on the performance as well. This can lead to higher-quality apps as it decreases the risk of errors.
4. Mobile Test Automation
Since mobile apps are in such high demand nowadays, businesses are doing their best to develop their products in a way that makes them work on the right devices. Since mobile devices are getting more powerful over time, mobile app development is increasing as well.
Mobile test automation must be a part of the toolchains of DevOps in order to support DevOps. However, because there are few tools and methods, there is very little mobile test automation utilization. Still, this doesn’t stop this trend from growing more and more.
5. Infrastructure as Code
Something we will see more and more as we move forward is infrastructure as code. While in the past it would take months or weeks to assign servers, it now takes only a few minutes. The way IT infrastructure is managed has changed a lot over the years, and more updates will be made in the future.
6. Shift-Left Testing
Shift-left testing is a trend emphasizing the early involvement of testing in the software development lifecycle. Traditionally, testing occurred after the development phase, but with shift-left testing, it starts much earlier. Developers and testers collaborate from the beginning, ensuring that potential issues are identified and addressed at the earliest stages. This approach helps in reducing the cost of fixing defects and accelerates the overall development process.
7. Continuous Testing in DevOps:
Continuous Testing is an integral part of the DevOps process. It involves automating the testing process throughout the development lifecycle to ensure that the code is always in a deployable state. This trend promotes efficiency, as it allows for quick and reliable feedback on changes made during development. Continuous Testing contributes to the overall goal of achieving a seamless integration and delivery pipeline.
8. Test Environment Management:
Managing test environments effectively is crucial for successful testing. As applications become more complex, the need for various test environments (such as staging, QA, and production-like environments) becomes evident. Test environment management involves the efficient allocation, configuration, and monitoring of these environments. Automation plays a key role in quickly setting up and tearing down test environments, ensuring consistency across different stages of testing.
9. Behavior-Driven Development (BDD):
BDD is a collaborative approach to software development that involves communication among developers, testers, and non-technical stakeholders. In BDD, tests are expressed in natural language, making them more accessible to non-technical team members. Tools supporting BDD help in creating a shared understanding of features and expected behaviors, resulting in improved collaboration and higher-quality software.
10. API Testing:
As applications increasingly rely on interconnected services, API testing has gained prominence. API testing involves assessing the functionality, reliability, performance, and security of application programming interfaces. With the rise of microservices architecture, testing APIs becomes essential for ensuring the seamless interaction between various components of an application.
11. Performance Engineering
Performance engineering goes beyond traditional performance testing. It involves a holistic approach to ensure that an application not only meets performance criteria but also delivers an optimal user experience. This trend includes performance testing, monitoring, and analysis throughout the development lifecycle, allowing teams to proactively address potential performance bottlenecks.
Adapting to these emerging trends in test management tools ensures that development and testing processes remain efficient, collaborative, and aligned with the demands of modern software development practices. Stay informed and integrate these trends into your testing strategies to stay ahead in the dynamic landscape of software development.
The Bottom Line
There are numerous trends emerging when it comes to bug tracking software and test management tools. Keep an eye on them if you want to adapt to the new methods used in testing and be one step ahead of your competition.
