• It is the sequence of operations used while developing the new software for designing and building them as per the customer requirements.

• It reduces the risk while developing through prior planning and meet the required outcomes.

Models of SDLC

There are various models used in developing the software, some of them are

• Prototype Model

• Iterative Model

• Spiral Model

• V-Model

• Waterfall Model

• Agile Model

SOFTWARE TESTING LIFE CYCLE (STLC)

• It is the systematic approach to testing a software whether it meets the customer requirements and its free of defects.

• The main aim is to identify the defects or errors as early as possible and rectify it before the deployment.

Stages of STLC

--> Requirement Analysis

--> Test Planning

--> Test case development

--> Environment Setup

--> Test Execution

--> Test cycle closure

Requirement Analysis

• This is the first stage of testing life cycle where the customer gives their requirements and needs to the company, from where it is given to the Business analyst (BA) i.e, quality assurance team.

• They go through the software requirement specification documents to better understanding of the product and knows the detailed knowledge of the product from the customers.

• Once clear with the product requirements moving on to the next stage.

Test Planning

• This is the second stage of STLC which is more efficient for planning all the detailed tasks to develop the product.

• In this stage, the estimated time, cost and efforts for completing the project are taken into consideration for further proceedings.

• Also assigning and dividing the team members to the specific jobs are also done in this stage.

Test Case Development

• This is the next stage where various test cases and scenarios are developed and studied for the required outcomes.

• For these various scenarios, the expected outcomes are identified. Validating and reviewing the test cases.

• This helps in reduce the risks as early as possible during the product development.

Environment Setup

• This is based on the products we are developing because work environments varies according to the products we are working.

• Various conditions are taken into consideration for testing the software.

Test Execution

• After completing the previous stages, this stage is next where the test cases are run in the certain software and check whether successful or not.

• If any defects identified, it is rectified and again retested for the expected result.

• These defects or issues are noted down in a documents for the further proceedings.

Test Cycle Closure

• The final stage of the STLC where all the testing related activities are completed and documented.

• The actual results are documented for further proceedings and errors that occurred during the development.

• The product should be defect free and should meet the customer requirements before the deployment.

RISK FACTORS IN TEST PLAN

Various risk factors that are included in test plan are,

• Delay in resources - This leads to start the process late and the expected result cannot be obtained in expected time. This also leads to work overtime, if worked in hurry the errors obtained will be more.

• Available of required tools - After starting the process, it can be stopped due to malfunction of software or tools in which the work has to move on.

• Skilled workers - If the process should be completed on time, then the workers have to be well trained and skilled. If not then the process takes time to make them understand the project and make them work.

• Expense Risk - If the ongoing product development has so many errors and it has to retested several times which leads to more cost effective one which is not affordable. So the required steps have to be taken prior to start developing the process.

• Customer Risk - Once the product is completed, it should be tested several times whether it meets the customer requirements before deployment. Or else it leads to the customer dissatisfaction and can lose the trust of the customer.

• Security Risk - Misuse of the product by the third person. To prevent this necessary steps has to be taken and security system should be created in the product for further unfruitful events.

Quality Assurance & Quality Control

QA & QC both comes under the quality management. QA deals with the set of activities and procedures called quality standards during and after product development whereas QC deals with checking the product or project whether it meets the required standards.

Difference between Manual & Automation testing