Anyone who has ever struggled with an app that keeps crashing or a website that just doesn’t do what it’s supposed to know that good software doesn’t just happen. Behind every stable application is a lot of work and, above all, thorough testing.
But not all tests are the same. There are different approaches depending on what you want to test. Let’s take a closer look at the most important ones.
The different types of test – from small to large
What do you really need?
If you’re now thinking “Wow, that’s a lot” – don’t worry, you don’t have to introduce all test types at once. But some are really essential:
Unit and integration tests are like a safety net when programming. They let you know immediately if something goes wrong and help to ensure that errors are not discovered later in the development process, when they are much more expensive to fix.
Regression tests are your protection against nasty surprises. They ensure that updates do not secretly break other functions.
System and acceptance tests are your quality check before publication. They guarantee that you end up with a usable product that users are happy with.
Why the effort is worth it
Admittedly, all these tests take time and effort. But they pay off:
Problems are found early, when they are still easy and cheap to solve. The code becomes more stable and is easier to develop further. With automated tests, new versions can be released more quickly because you can be sure that nothing important is broken. And in the end, you get software that really does what it is supposed to – both technically and from the user’s point of view.
Especially in a world where product cycles are constantly shortening with continuous delivery, it is crucial to be able to roll out even small changes without a great deal of manual testing. And it is precisely this security that tests offer.
How we test at BAYOOTEC
For us, unit tests are an indispensable standard part of every project. We don’t write them for the customer or the project manager – we write them for ourselves. Because our software is not a static bunker, but is constantly being developed, improved, supplemented and adapted.
Unit tests give our developers the security they need to make such changes without fear of everything suddenly falling apart “at the other end”.
Integration tests for business-critical processes are also an integral part of our projects. In addition, we actively support the planning and implementation of customized test strategies – individually tailored to the requirements, processes and standards of our customers.
Bottom line
Professional software development without structured tests? That’s like driving a car without brakes – theoretically possible, but not a good idea. Unit tests, integration tests, system tests and acceptance tests are the foundation for software that not only works, but is also reliable, maintainable and user-friendly.
They have long been standard in modern development teams. Not because they are fun (even if some developers claim that), but because they are simply necessary for good software.
