Testing vs. Development Processes

Testing Stages in Waterfall

In non-agile processes, testing of given production code is to execute the code with test cases to validate the requirements and find errors. This is usually led by a quality assurance group.

  • Executes given production code with test cases to validate requirements and find errors
  • Often performed by an independent testing team

Sample Process:

  • specify test requirements
  • create a test plan to meet constraints
    • computing resources, time, budget
  • design test cases to cover requirements
  • implement tests
    • manually perform or write/run test code
  • analyze test results and create reports

The testing process in Waterfall is often destructive because it attempts to break the software.

  • not in Agile/TDD: see below!

Agile Processes

In Agile processes, testing is as integral to software development as coding.

Following agile principles, agile testing

  • ensures delivering the business value desired by the customer at frequent intervals
  • involves all members of a cross-functional team

In TDD, test cases are transformed into test code before the production code is written.

Compared to traditional testing, this process is constructive in that it builds up software.