The increasing interest in software along with the developing technology in recent years plays a major role in the young generation choosing this field as a career. Technologies and software that have entered every aspect of our lives have increased the need for software testing and opened a new career path.
What is this Software Testing?
Software testing is a process to check and verify whether the software meets the requirements. This process aims to ensure that the software works as designed and meets the requirements the customer expects.
In this process, errors are detected and corrected, thus the deficiencies are eliminated and the quality is increased before the software reaches the end user. Detecting and correcting errors before they reach the end user reduces costs in the long run. Therefore, software testing is of great importance in the software development life cycle.
So Who is a Software Test Engineer?
Software test engineers are individuals who evaluate whether the software developed by developers meets the requirements, verify if the software conforms to the design, aim to find defects, adopt the motto ‘no code is without bugs’, and cannot rest until they find errors.
A software test engineer must possess an investigative and inquisitive personality. Like a detective, they should follow the trail of bugs and find them.
A software test engineer plays a critical role throughout the software development lifecycle. They begin by establishing what needs to be tested, determining the test requirements to ensure the software meets its designated requirements. Initial manual tests are carried out to assess the software’s functionality and to identify any immediate issues.
Once the scope of manual testing is covered, the test engineer moves on to develop and execute automated tests utilizing a variety of technologies. This transition is crucial for validating the software’s reliability and for streamlining the testing process, making it more efficient and comprehensive.
Defects uncovered during testing are meticulously reported to the development team with detailed documentation, and a test engineer maintains continuous communication to ensure that these issues are understood and addressed promptly.
In addition to executing tests and reporting, a test engineer also plays a proactive role in running debugging programs to further identify and resolve any lingering issues. They contribute to the creation of automated test scripts, which reinforce the test plans and ensure that the software adheres to the highest standards of quality.
Furthermore, test engineers are responsible for producing comprehensive reports that summarize the types of errors discovered, as well as documenting the corrective actions taken.
These reports are essential for tracking progress and for historical reference.
Working in tandem with software developers, test engineers engage in a collaborative effort to pinpoint potential errors, assess risks, and troubleshoot problems. This partnership is vital to mitigate risks and to address any concerns that may arise before the software product’s completion, thereby safeguarding the product’s integrity and ensuring the release of a robust and reliable software to the end- users.
What Does My Day Look Like as a Test Engineer?
As a software test engineer, my responsibilities include various tasks throughout a day at the office. First thing in the morning, I attend daily stand-up meetings with developers, analysts, and fellow test engineers where we discuss what was accomplished yesterday and what the goals are for today.
After the meeting, I read through the analysis reports of the projects I am working on and review the designs. Based on the requirements, I perform my analysis and prepare the necessary environments to start examining the projects manually.
During the manual tests, I compile a report detailing any issues I encounter, including the environment in which the error occurred, the type of error, and the steps taken to reach that error.
Once developers have fixed the bugs, I re-apply the same steps to ensure the issues have been resolved.
After completing the manual tests, depending on the suitability of the project, I decide which automation framework to use and begin writing my automation scripts. This allows me to save time by not having to repeat many steps manually each time.
This cycle continues throughout all the sprints.