Given that modern software is invariably complex and multi-layered, it is built on mountains of code and intertwined programming languages. This usually results in the occurrence of numerous bugs, all of which need to be identified, documented, tracked, and fixed. This is why defect management is a fixture in software testing pipelines. Without the right defect tracking tools and defect management process, bugs will inevitably escape into production.
This article will take readers through the basics of the defect management process.
What is a defect?
Think of a defect or bug as a deviation from expected software behavior. In other words, if a website or app is functioning differently from what users would expect from it, that particular variation would be considered a defect.
Features of Defect Management
- Defect Identification
Testing teams must find as many defects as possible so that they can be acknowledged, categorized, and resolved by developers.
- Defect Categorization
Once defects have been identified, ensure that the right defect data has been captured. Quality of data allows testers and developers to fix exactly what went wrong in the least amount of time.
The correct information that needs to be recorded with regard to each defect should include
- Description
- Bug Severity
- Cost of fixing
- Feature in which defect was identified
- Name of the tester who identified the defect
- Defect type
- Revision and release deadlines
- Defect Resolution
Now that bugs have been identified and relevant information has been recorded, informed decisions can be made about resolving each defect.
- Defect Analysis
Now that defects have been detected, categorized, and resolved, step back and take a look at the big picture.
Defect Metrics
- Defect Rejection Ratio: (Number of defects rejected/Total number of defects detected) X 100
- Defect Leakage Ratio: (Number of defects missed/Total number of defects detected) X 100
The role of Real Devices
The best way to detect all bugs is to run software through real devices and browsers. Put websites through manual testing and automation testing. Automated Selenium testing should supplement manual tests so that testers do not miss any bugs in the Quality Assurance process. This also applies to mobile app testing and automated app testing.
In the absence of an in-house device lab, opt for a cloud-based testing service that provides real devices, browsers, and operating systems. It should also offer debugging tools that make it easy to share and resolve bugs.
