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Problem solve

Get help with specific problems with your technologies, process and projects.

• What are the types of requirements in software engineering?

  Requirements fall into three categories: business, user and software. See examples of each one, as well as what constitutes functional and nonfunctional software requirements. Continue Reading

• How to balance data access and security in fintech testing

  Using real data is beneficial in software testing -- but teams must be careful not to compromise security and privacy. Six core strategies for fintech testing can help. Continue Reading

• Tools and techniques to test Kubernetes objects

  Kubernetes manifests and objects represent the baseline of code development on the platform. Here's why and how to test these integral elements of Kubernetes. Continue Reading

• Who writes acceptance criteria?

  Product owners are usually responsible for acceptance criteria. But everyone who has a say in the final product should be involved in the process. Continue Reading

• Identify and fix broken builds with CI/CD pipelines

  Experiencing broken builds in your CI/CD pipeline? These best practices related to credentials, flaky tests and alerts can boost productivity and confidence. Continue Reading

• Where requirements-based tests fit in software testing

  Requirements-based testing has its upsides and downsides, and it's not right for every software project. But certain dev teams should still adopt the method. Learn which ones.Continue Reading

• Don't fall victim to these 5 Scrum anti-patterns

  Scrum is meant to adapt and change to different scenarios. Here are five common anti-patterns that can arise in Scrum when teams get complacent or comfortable with their old ways.Continue Reading

• Follow these database testing basics for better data

  Data is typically a company's most valuable asset. The data should be treated as such, with vigorous, almost constant testing, regardless of its location.Continue Reading

• How to implement mock objects for simpler testing

  Test mocking can serve as a valuable asset in a developer's toolbelt. Here's how to implement mock objects within testing processes and some potential pitfalls to be aware of.Continue Reading

• 9 techniques for fixing bugs in production

  Some companies defend against bugs with a strong offense of rapid iterations and feature flags. Others find the best defense is thorough test coverage. Here's what works and why.Continue Reading

• How ALM differs from SDLC

  ALM and SDLC both cover much of the same ground, such as development, testing and deployment. Where these lifecycle concepts differ is the scope of what they include.Continue Reading

• How to handle root cause analysis of software defects

  Root cause analysis plays a major role in how software teams can fix their defects. Here's how to employ root cause analysis and how teams can get the most out of the process.Continue Reading

• Checklist for mobile app testing: 15 gaps to look for

  Makers of iOS and Android apps chronically fail to test these 15 aspects of mobile apps. But to release quality mobile software, development teams must start testing -- here's how.Continue Reading

• Waterfall or Agile? Predictive vs. adaptive SDLC explained

  Waterfall and Agile epitomize the differences between predictive and adaptive SDLCs. Here are some considerations that a dev team should know before it chooses a methodology.Continue Reading

• 4 innovations in software development and testing to watch

  These methods and technologies change the way developers and testers do their jobs -- or even what their duties are. Explore innovations related to AI, the flow of work and more.Continue Reading

• Why is unit testing important for developers?

  Through unit testing, software developers know source code works at the atomic level. Read why unit testing is important and valuable, as well as how it can ease the debugging process.Continue Reading

• Regression testing vs. UAT: Goals and techniques

  Regression tests and UAT ensure software quality and both require a sizeable investment. Learn when and how to perform each one, and some tips to get the most out of your effort.Continue Reading

• Functional vs. nonfunctional requirements in software engineering

  Learn the meaning of functional vs. nonfunctional requirements in software engineering, with helpful examples. Then, see how to write both and build a product that users will love.Continue Reading

• How to approach Agile team organization

  Should an Agile team have an architect? Does cross-functional mean constantly changing? How do teams set velocity and quality? Get the answers to set up and lead Agile teams.Continue Reading

• How to calculate project completion times

  Good project managers deliver on schedule, despite the challenges they encounter. Become a time and resource management pro and deliver on the expected completion date.Continue Reading

• How to prevent accidental complexity in software development

  Software products contain both essential and accidental complexity. To fight accidental complexity, avoid overambitious designs, coding flaws and other common problem areas.Continue Reading

• Software performance testing requirements and prerequisites

  Just because software passes functional tests doesn't mean it works. Dig into stress, load, endurance and other performance tests, and their prerequisites and requirements.Continue Reading

• How to test mobile applications using a game emulator

  We could all use a little wiggle room in software testing budgets. Sometimes you've got to be creative to find it. Learn how a video game emulator can test mobile apps.Continue Reading

• Fix spaghetti code and other pasta-theory antipatterns

  Developers must try to write maintainable, reusable code. That's easier said than done. Learn about programming antipatterns espoused in the pasta theory, and don't forget a napkin.Continue Reading

• Why flaky tests are a problem you can't ignore

  Monotonous as the task might be, QA must detect and fix the root causes of flaky tests. Invest the time and effort, or risk the dangers of an unreliable test automation suite.Continue Reading

• How developers focus despite open offices, concurrent projects

  What do shared meeting calendars, pink sombreros and home offices have in common? They're all ways to combat distractions and let programmers focus on productive coding.Continue Reading

• Deal with remote software testing challenges

  Is your software QA team new to remote work? Learn what technical, process and culture challenges you will encounter, and how to surpass them to ensure quality.Continue Reading

• Reduce these forms of AI bias from devs and testers

  Watch out for cognitive biases in every development and testing decision -- especially AI biases that affect software users. Here are the ways to address common issues.Continue Reading

• How do software developers and architects work together?

  Work is more fun when developers and architects have a relationship that is collaborative, not adversarial or absentee. Here's how real teams join forces to build quality software.Continue Reading

• Why projects fail in the citizen developer model

  It's easy for citizen developers to start a software project, but difficult to augment or maintain it. Watch out for these four issues that ruin most no-code projects.Continue Reading

• Real-world developers' low-code examples focus on productivity

  Two enterprise IT organizations share the benefits their dev teams gained from different low-code platforms, the process issues the tools exposed and how teams can get started.Continue Reading

• How to patch your open source software vulnerabilities

  No matter how big your software vulnerabilities backlog has grown, here's how you can tackle it, and get on the path to continuous security monitoring.Continue Reading

• Use intrusive testing to push software to, and past, its limits

  Grab your sledgehammer and get to work with destructive software testing. Here's how to use these intrusive methods to identify points of failure before software reaches users.Continue Reading

• DevOps in the enterprise requires focus on security, visibility

  App dev, quality and delivery challenges constantly pop up in DevOps implementations. Hear how overworked IT professionals deal with these challenges, and how tools can help -- or not.Continue Reading

• What goes into a user story vs. use case for Agile development?

  Developers refer to software requirements to code a good product, but there are different ways to categorize user needs. What's the difference between a user story vs. a use case?Continue Reading

• 10 tips for effective change management in Agile

  Agile development encourages product owners to address customer needs through change. Follow these 10 tips for change requests and management practices that keep projects on track.Continue Reading

• A DevOps pipeline works only when the tooling works

  A DevOps toolchain needs to help IT people do their job, sure. But to do that, it also needs to provide useful glimpses into the process so that everyone is in the loop.Continue Reading

• Build a DevOps toolchain that's efficient and effective

  Is it possible to create a DevOps toolchain that meets the needs of developers, IT operations teams and business staffers? Here's how to devise a strategy.Continue Reading

• Implement a DevSecOps pipeline to boost releases' security posture

  Break security out of its silo, and get the whole team on board to create a culture of quality with the right tools at the right time -- and stop blindly rushing to release.Continue Reading

• How to prevent lingering software quality issues

  Coders can learn a lot from manufacturers, according to Gary Gruver, even though the products are distinctly different. This free chapter excerpt covers how to approach QA issues.Continue Reading

• How to achieve speedy application response times

  Development and operations teams both have a responsibility to ensure fast application response times. Follow this advice to measure and reduce delay.Continue Reading

• 10 skills of highly effective software testers

  QA professionals with hands-on experience and a mix of technical and soft skills offer great value for software engineering teams. Testers with these 10 skills can boost their careers.Continue Reading

• How do I foster reusable code across dev projects?

  Developers don't have a lot of free time. Code reuse helps dev teams focus on the most valuable aspects of a project. So ensure your team knows how to write, and test, reusable code.Continue Reading

• How to meet QA responsibilities during a software tester shortage

  An organization facing a dire shortage of QA engineers can't just dump these tasks on developers. Here's how to keep up software quality with limited QA resources.Continue Reading

• How to form a regression testing plan with these 5 questions

  Make regression testing part of a software quality control plan. Determine the project's testing requirements, and team preferences, to clarify a potent regression testing strategy.Continue Reading

• How do I know what's test automation vs. automated testing?

  A script-based tool has replaced a daily testing exercise on some code. Is it simply an automated test, part of a test automation strategy or even DevOps-enabled continuous testing?Continue Reading

• Quality assurance testing vs. user acceptance testing

  There are differences between QA and UAT, but testers from both sides ought to collaborate and firm up test plans to resolve issues.Continue Reading

• Common software compatibility issues and how to fix them

  Developers tend to look forward, to the next iteration or the newest software. But, when releasing a feature, don't leave behind end users with older systems and edge case setups.Continue Reading

• Apply these types of code coverage to squash most bugs

  Learn technical types of code coverage -- such as all-pairs testing and branch tests -- as well as ways to gather meaningful test cases and prioritize them.Continue Reading

• Apply automated security scanning during app development

  For developers, security is not often a high priority -- but it should be. Automated security scanning tools can help detect and address weaknesses before evildoers discover them.Continue Reading

• How to deprecate software features without bothering users

  There's more to software deprecation than it seems. Organizations must consider the method of deprecation, how to inform users and what alternatives they should offer.Continue Reading

• How can I course-correct my testing career path?

  Don't get stuck in QA monotony. Show your technical knowhow and expand your horizons to boost your career -- even if it means throwing out the map.Continue Reading

• What makes for a quiet developer work environment on the road?

  Developers run into distractions when they work out of a hotel or Airbnb. Here's how to fight back against subpar accommodations that halt productivity -- and how to avoid them next time.Continue Reading

• How the developer experience builds trickle-down usability

  Developer experience is the equivalent of user experience (UX). The way developers experience tools and consume libraries matters and leads to better engagement.Continue Reading

• Use these shift-right methods to test code in production

  There's no shortage of ways for a QA team to adopt shift-right testing. But, while the approach can fit in with continuous deployment, don't consider it a catch-all for bug removal.Continue Reading

• Learn how to improve software quality with reverse-engineering

  Customer complaints about a team's app can contain insight on how to improve it. Yet, to decipher the actual cause of any problem and a change to fix it, QA needs to be brought in.Continue Reading

• Good teams come clean about their IT competence

  How is your company culture going to stay up to date on IT trends? Don't let that question linger, since, sooner or later, you'll work with a technology you don't understand at all.Continue Reading

• How do I find my career path in software testing?

  I've been a tester for many years and want to progress professionally. Yet, I'm struggling to find chances for advancement and a career path in software testing. Any pointers?Continue Reading

• Enterprise software developers: Forget minor software bugs

  Many enterprises think software isn't perfect unless they eliminate minor defects. However, this approach won't prevent major disasters, and it hinders the practices that would.Continue Reading

• How to save DevOps from cargo cult programming

  The meaning of DevOps -- better cooperation between developers and operations professionals -- has been lost in many companies. Expert Theresa Neate explains what has to happen.Continue Reading

• Security in open source software isn't automatic

  Just how much time and effort should you commit to securing all that open source code your organization makes use of? Probably more than you are now.Continue Reading

• OSS security requires DIY scrutiny, not trusting 'many eyes'

  How many ways can hackers exploit the security flaws in open source? Cybersecurity experts count the ways and the approaches that can prevent costly security breaches.Continue Reading

• The secret to DevOps test automation? Pick your battles

  The pain of software test automation is real, particularly in a DevOps environment. But what if it was possible to approach it all differently? App maker Airtasker has a plan.Continue Reading

• Amp up OSS security with these steps

  A test vendor's CTO describes the OSS security mistakes that enterprises make, such as not patching vulnerabilities or inaccurate inventory dependencies.Continue Reading

• Salary snapshot: Test automation engineer salaries in four cities

  It seems nearly any job related to DevOps carries a higher salary, and test automation is no exception. Here's our salary snapshot of test automation engineers in four U.S. cities.Continue Reading

• Why new feature testing should be at the heart of DevOps

  Continuous testing is a good idea, but if used as a Band-Aid, it will miss things. Expert Matt Heusser explains why the focus should be on new feature testing.Continue Reading

• How can I attend software testing conferences?

  You want to attend a software testing conference, but your employer said it's too expensive. Here are some ways to improve your chances to attend.Continue Reading

• It's past time to revisit Agile's definition of 'done'

  The definition of 'done' only covers what happens on the dev side. So, it's not very useful in a DevOps shop. Expert Theresa Neate explains what needs to change.Continue Reading

• Automated security testing frees devs to prevent breaches

  Common software security mistakes include testing at the last minute and not testing open source code and VMs. Expert Matt Heusser suggests ways to avoid these and other missteps.Continue Reading

• Which software engineer skills matter? All of them

  The ongoing developer shortage means employers face unique challenges when it comes to hiring. LinkedIn's Sarah O'Brien offers insight into how developers behave and what they're really looking for.Continue Reading

• Agile vs. DevOps: Test your software methodology knowledge

  To develop software faster, Agile or DevOps can help. But that doesn't make either choice easy. Test your knowledge to see if you understand what makes each methodology unique.Continue Reading

• IBM goes full steam toward eliminating AI problems

  At IBM Think 2018, CEO Ginni Rometty discusses ways and tools to overcome AI problems and bottlenecks.Continue Reading

• Database virtualization lets developers code with confidence

  For the longest time, sharing a database has meant long nights for developers. But as more and more organizations adopt virtualized databases, those days are numbered.Continue Reading

• A complete beginner's guide to blending DevOps and security

  DevSecOps sounds like a mouthful for those new to DevOps, but building security in from the start is key to DevOps success. Expert Kevin Beaver explains.Continue Reading

• A DevOps beginner's guide for user experience professionals

  If you're a UX pro brand-new to DevOps, you might wonder where to begin. UX columnist Jason Grant offers a step-by-step approach for designers who are DevOps newbies.Continue Reading

• A comprehensive beginner's guide to DevOps for testers

  Newcomers to DevOps have a steep learning curve and nowhere more so than in test. Expert Matthew Heusser has a beginner's guide to DevOps and testing.Continue Reading

• Is a software test schedule at the development team's mercy?

  Does the development team determine the software test schedule? Find out why working with DevOps can alleviate some time and test constraints.Continue Reading

• What enterprises learn from software failure incidents

  Research from Etsy and IBM suggests we are learning the wrong lessons from software failure incidents and points toward how to get it right.Continue Reading

• What is the best way to load test mobile applications?

  Mobile apps create a challenge for testers; no approach can cover every device. However, there are best practices for load testing mobile applications.Continue Reading

• Who is responsible for software development and design?

  Can developers and designers ever meet in the middle? And if so, how can they speak the same language? Expert Jason Grant offers tried-and-true advice for making it work.Continue Reading

• UX vs. UI design: It's complicated but important to understand

  User experience is tied to user interface, but they're not the same thing in software design. Expert Jason Grant offers his take on how to use both to make better software.Continue Reading

• Should the QA process always include the business side?

  Quality assurance professionals need to start thinking about bringing business along for the ride. Expert Amy Reichert offers tried-and-true advice to get started.Continue Reading

• What happens when acceptance criteria in software testing is missing?

  You can't test something if you don't know what it's supposed to do. Often, testers have a very incomplete understanding of what they're testing. Here's how to fix the problem.Continue Reading

• Comparing development methodologies: Agile vs. DevOps vs. Lean Startup

  It's a confusing, jargon-filled world out there. Expert Christopher Ward brings clarity in part one of a series of articles on the differences between Lean, Agile and DevOps.Continue Reading

• How do I know if my busy QA professionals are actually engaged?

  A busy tester seems like a happy tester, but expert Amy Reichert warns that appearances can be deceiving. Here's why you need to be sure your testers are really paying attention.Continue Reading

• When DevOps and requirements gathering techniques collide

  Moving from Agile to DevOps? Requirements gathering is a great place to start rethinking and incorporating a high level of collaboration. Expert Christopher Ward explains.Continue Reading

• Can time management improve productivity of QA testers?

  Despite what you might think, time management is possible. Expert Amy Reichert explains how QA testers can stop procrastinating and take charge of their lives.Continue Reading

• Does a tester actually need test cases?

  Discover whether or not test cases are necessary in this expert answer by consultant Robin Goldsmith.Continue Reading

• Five tools to improve embedded software testing efforts

  Embedded software testing tools are useful for catching defects during unit, integration and system testing. Here are five such tools that can make testing easier.Continue Reading

• Software quality metrics paint partial project picture

  QA consultant Gerie Owen discusses the use of two post-production metrics: defect removal efficiency and defect detection percentage.Continue Reading

• Agile application lifecycle management is not an oxymoron

  Learn how Agile application lifecycle management supports the development process for better software and business needs.Continue Reading

• Agile project management: Increasing business agility with Agile ALM

  Increase business agility capabilities with Agile project management. Find tips and tools for Agile ALM best practices.Continue Reading

• Agile ALM tools have pitfalls to acknowledge

  While venders only discuss the benefits of using Agile ALM tools, test expert Amy Reichert reveals the possible pitfalls.Continue Reading

• Agile and ALM: A marriage made in heaven?

  Learn why developing Agile and ALM can benefit organizational processes.Continue Reading

• How Agile ALM tools shape business agility

  Learn how Agile ALM tools can increase agility in businesses.Continue Reading

• The risks of Agile software development: Overcoming feature creep

  Ellen Gottesdiener, founder of EBG Consulting offers insights on managing feature creep, the biggest pitfall of Agile software development.Continue Reading

• Guiding principles for an automated software test

  An expert in automated software testing offers guiding principles for succeeding at this most challenging of QA projects.Continue Reading

• SaaS application testing: Keep performance tests in mind

  Performance testing must be a high priority for SaaS application testers. Learn why and pick up tips on how to test a SaaS system's performance.Continue Reading

• Scrum project management: Estimating with story points

  Scrum project management expert Yvette Francino explains how teams use story points to estimate effort involved in developing a particular feature.Continue Reading

• A well-developed software requirements specification is easy to test

  SearchSoftwareQuality expert Scott Sehlhorst discusses how to avoid writing a software requirements specification that is too vague to be tested.Continue Reading