Not a single piece of work can be submitted without a thorough revision. Any product area is impossible to survive without a quality check procedure. It is something that by no means can be neglected and treated with a thrifty approach.
As the authors of “The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master” said, “It’s not at all necessary to get it right the first time. It’s important to get it right the last time.” When it comes to software development, as with pretty much any product development, there must be a QA testing solutions provider that will assure glitches to be identified and fixed.
Software testing specialists bring critical value to the IT business. Therefore, software development companies should make sure to have the quality assurance department in full professional gear, whether it is an onboard team, or the company has more odds to turn to software testing outsourcing.
Let’s have a closer look at what defines a QA engineer to be a talent in the area and what additional skills might come in handy.
Software Testing Types: General Overview
Testing can be defined as a process of finding dysfunctionalities that are not meant to be there according to the stated product description highlights. Or we can call it debugging and still be correct with a definition.
The process engages in so many activities done both automatically and manually in order to identify whether the software meets the expectations and completely from defects, errors alongside other expectations gaps that might harm users’ experience and clients’ trust. The test-focused approach is well-appreciated in PC software as well as non-PC software (embedded systems industry area) development.
There Can be Defined 3 Major Ways of Performing Software Quality Checks:
- Manual testing – hands-on way, “click and compare” sort of thing.
- Automation testing – the script is developed to run the test.
- Continuous testing – more intricate in terms of scalability automated testing.
Source: Mobilunity
Other testing types of discrimination will depend on what product is under “construction” and what features have to be gone over. Here we may talk about security testing, performance testing, load testing, etc.
Also depending on the resource capacity of the company, it can be utilizing outsourcing software testing possibilities, or be managing the in-house QA team.
Software testing is an important part of a software development process equation. Whether it is direct mobile app testing, or embedded software consulting, or quality control activity, it must be performed with a high-profile proficiency skill set.
Technical Skills Every Software Tester Needs
As it’s been mentioned before, a software testing expert is essential for the constantly evolving IT field to equip businesses with full-blown, functioning-wise, programs and services. Quality assurance engineers must have the following technical skills package so that to run tests and create recommendations for software improvements.
The following list might shed light on the skill profile of the tester eligible for work:
- Proficient knowledge of test types – ability to analyze products requirements and business needs
- Software tests preparation – test plans, test scenarios, test cases
- Documentation creation – testing procedures reports, defect reports creation, sign-off reports
- The grip of business mapping – QA cannot function separately from the business structure
- Software tests automation
- Comprehensive knowledge of programming languages – greatly improves communication with developers.
- Knowledge of the software development cycle – provides the ability to take care of more effective planning.
- Performing cross-browser testing – on multiple browsers program might act differently
- Solid knowledge of testing tools – Automation tools, GUI testing, API tools
- Knowledge of Linux commands – a big deal of apps are deployed in Linux machines
- Basic knowledge of databases and SQL – sometimes data validation must be required.
Technical skills are extra important, yet soft skills are also a must for QA specialists. The Software Development process is nothing but total teamwork and networking is something that makes it possible to develop the product appreciated by the clients and for the good of the developing company. It is common for both outsourced QA testing and in-house one.
Also, it is important to mention that constant upgrading, willingness to learn, the desire to obtain certificates, and improve professional level enhance the chances of the candidate to achieve a job offer.
The Importance of Learning Linux as a Tester
One of the skills mentioned in the tester profile is the knowledge of Linux commands. It is important since being an open-source OS, Linux offers more possibilities for both developers and testers in terms of immersing deep into the development environment and being restricted close to nothing, due to its plethora of tools and perspectives to learn.
When having a solid command of Linux commands ( no pun intended) one might engage in performing backend testing ( e.g. fetching and verifying logs), getting involved with real-time projects, testing in Domains like Telecom, Big Data.
As a testing specialist, you have to develop the testing environment and perform the completion of the test cases. A prevailing number of apps and programs are deployed on Linux. Therefore, to demonstrate an efficient testing task execution, you must know Linux commands and operations.
When trying to pass the interview, even if it is for embedded systems consultant in testing, you have to be familiar with Shell, Daemon, Man Command, the process in Linux, Linux directory operations, “sed”, “cp”, ”mv”, “head”, “tail” commands, etc.
The takeaway is that Linux knowledge on top of the other mastery will definitely make it easy to set up testing processes and run tests smoothly alongside being on the same page with the colleagues in development.
Conclusion
Software testing job requires a lot of knowledge both in technology and business. Soft skills go inseparably together with hard skills and guarantee high professionalism alongside a great sense of teamwork. Learning Linux is definitive for staying ahead and being capable of performing an efficient, thorough testing job, discovering new horizons of how far “digging through” the dysfunctionalities can expand with all the tools and commands that this free OS offers.
