Tips

Tips

• 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

• Why development team membership should change regularly

  Static development teams might be hurting your company. But too much reorganization can cause chaos. Here's how to strike a balance that keeps teams engaged and innovative.  Continue Reading

• Common functional testing types explained, with examples

  Not sure what to check during an integration test, or whether to combine regression and user acceptance testing? Learn what these functional test types cover, and when to do them.  Continue Reading

• How Lean value stream mapping cuts delay, boosts efficiency

  You have a backlog, work in short sprints, and track metrics on test coverage and defect rates -- so why does it still take so long to move code to production? Try visualizing it.  Continue Reading

• 4 ways to minimize test automation maintenance

  Test automation maintenance is inescapable. Here are four ways to reduce maintenance and ensure software testing is as effective as possible.  Continue Reading

• Assess TestRail vs. Zephyr test management tools

  TestRail and Zephyr offer test management capabilities and integrate with tools that development teams rely on, like Jira. Check out features and user reviews for each product.  Continue Reading

• 23 software development metrics to track today

  High-performance, engaging, secure apps don't happen by accident. Measure these KPIs to improve the software development process and software quality.  Continue Reading

• User acceptance testing best practices for Agile teams

  Dig into the basics of user acceptance testing, including who handles the task, what should go into test criteria and other best practices.  Continue Reading

• 7 techniques for better Agile requirements gathering

  Avoid headaches when you gather software requirements. Learn these seven Agile techniques to understand requirements without reverting to Waterfall.  Continue Reading

• How to work with custom low-code application components

  No- and low-code development platforms meet more enterprise app needs when they're customized. However, custom work can mean just as much programming as before you bought the tool.  Continue Reading

• GitKraken vs. Sourcetree: Pick a Git GUI that fits dev needs

  Git GUIs give developers a visual means to manipulate source code repositories. Learn why GitKraken and Sourcetree are popular options among developers, and where each stands out.  Continue Reading

• Follow this Dockerfile tutorial to create a dev environment

  Containers can help establish consistent dev environments. In this step-by-step tutorial, learn how to write a Dockerfile and run containerized applications.  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

• Effective QA practices for RPA bot maintenance

  Effective RPA QA ensures your bots don't go haywire. Learn how RPA bots fail, effective QA workflows to fix them, and how, when and where human testers should get involved.  Continue Reading

• Top 5 benefits of Jenkins for CI/CD pipelines

  Many software teams continue to use open source Jenkins for CI/CD, despite other platforms on the market. Here's how Jenkins fits what teams look for in CI/CD tools.  Continue Reading

• Top software documentation tools and how to use them

  The best software documentation helps frame development projects and improve existing offerings. Learn the ins and outs of popular software documentation types and tools.  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

• 4 common software maintenance models and when to use them

  Should you use a quick-fix or closed-loop maintenance model for the software project on your development team's plate? What about iterative? Learn the benefits, use cases and limits of four common models.  Continue Reading

• How to perform effective code reviews -- in less time

  Waiting for code reviews can feel like watching paint dry. Break the bad habit of slow code reviews with these organizational changes -- just remember it takes time to save time.  Continue Reading

• How to hold effective Agile sprint planning meetings

  Successful Agile sprints aren't about 10x developers or all-night testing sessions. It all comes down to how you plan. Here's how to plan sprints that run in an effective way.  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

• 3 common challenges of mobile application testing

  Testers often struggle with these three aspects of mobile app testing. Luckily, these QA challenges aren't insurmountable. Learn how to mitigate these mobile app testing problems.  Continue Reading

• How declarative DevOps enables self-service, flexible delivery

  DevOps teams can achieve automated delivery via a lot of custom code, or they can implement declarative tools and templates. Declarative DevOps has many advantages to offer.  Continue Reading

• DBmaestro vs. Liquibase: Database DevOps tools square off

  DevOps has reached databases, which means yet another option to consider in your toolchain. Learn what matters in a database DevOps tool, and what sets apart Liquibase and DBmaestro.  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

• Complete guide to penetration testing best practices

  Pen testing uncovers security vulnerabilities before hackers do. Use this guide to learn about the tooling options, test types, use cases and common flaws in software penetration testing.  Continue Reading

• Top criteria that belong in a mobile app testing plan

  Smartphones are ubiquitous, but no two users are the same -- bandwidth, devices, OSes and platforms differ. Here's how to test mobile apps exhaustively and prioritize what matters.  Continue Reading

• Sonatype Nexus vs. JFrog: Pick an open source security scanner

  Chances are your organization relies on open source code. But how do you manage code vulnerabilities? Find a product best suited for your needs in this Sonatype Nexus vs. JFrog comparison.  Continue Reading

• What to include in a disaster recovery testing plan

  Prepare software systems for disasters by putting together and testing a disaster recovery plan. Be ready for ransomware, fires, sabotage and a spilled cup of coffee on a laptop.  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

• 4 ways to make a distributed Scrum team work

  Distributed Scrum team members must find virtual ways to replicate the workflows, practices, tools and perks that a colocated team has access to -- from the comforts of their homes.  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

• 4 ways to use record and playback test automation tools

  Many test automation tools offer record and playback testing. Here's how to apply this handy capability for training, usability tests and continuous automated testing.  Continue Reading

• 10 tips on when to refactor code

  Developers only have so much time available. Here's how to prioritize code refactoring so you get the most value from the least amount of effort.  Continue Reading

• How do you run effective standup meetings?

  When it comes to Agile standups, throw out the rulebook. Effective standup meetings result from flexibility, not rigidity. Follow these five guidelines to get more engagement.  Continue Reading

• Automate security testing and scans for DevSecOps success

  Attackers are knocking at your door. Don't waste time with repetitive, automatable security tasks. Here's how DevSecOps enables code analysis, security testing and more.  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 to set up a chaos engineering game day

  Is it fun to spend the day breaking stuff in a war room with your coworkers? Of course, but more than that, it's vital to the security and stability of certain applications.  Continue Reading

• What's the purpose of a Gantt chart for large-scale projects?

  A Gantt chart's selling point is that it's simple to understand at a glance. But a large-scale project, such as a DevOps transformation, quickly turns that advantage into a flaw.  Continue Reading

• TDD vs. BDD vs. ATDD and other Agile development techniques

  Agile development doesn't always start with, well, development. Put tests before coding in TDD, BDD and other Agile techniques to minimize waste and focus on the user.  Continue Reading

• How to create clear, collaborative user story maps

  Messy or unclear user story maps quickly lead to confusion and contention. Read on to learn how to structure your maps and create a shared understanding of them.  Continue Reading

• The future of UX research: Measure the unquantifiable

  Applications capture more information than ever about their users, from heart rate to tone of voice. Prepare for a connected software future with qualitative UX measurements.  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

• How to use Selenium IDE for record and playback testing

  Testers can use a tool like Selenium IDE for test automation to efficiently check web app interfaces. Here's how to put the open source tool to work in no time.  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

• Adopt the 4 foundations of Agile collaboration

  Foster a positive team environment and culture to accomplish the collaboration goals of Agile. Here's how to synchronize teams and boost efficiency, as well as tools that help.  Continue Reading

• 3 reasons testers need a QA manager in Agile

  Agile teams without a QA manager prioritize developers' perspectives -- even to the software's detriment. Here are three ways in which a QA manager offers value to Agile teams, and how they support testers.  Continue Reading

• Pick user-centric software performance testing metrics

  Unlike other types of tests, performance tests gauge how well an application works -- not whether it fails. Testers must pay close attention to these metrics to keep end users happy.  Continue Reading

• How to write a good software bug report

  When it comes to defect reporting, the more detail, the better. Here's how to produce defect reports that get bugs fixed fast.  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

• Dive into functional testing and non-functional testing approaches

  Don't get trapped in a white or black box -- or the gray area in between. Here's why functional and non-functional app testing are complementary ways to ensure end user satisfaction.  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

• The 6 IDE features to use for tool selection

  The best IDE for a project depends on the languages programmers use, how the platform integrates with code repositories and other tools, and many other factors.  Continue Reading

• How user story mapping aids requirements gathering in Agile

  Agile requirements are dynamic, not static. Collaborate on user story maps to make sense of frequently evolving customer needs, and put a Scrum Master at the center of it all.  Continue Reading

• How to train junior developers in 5 steps

  Junior developers thrive on trust and training -- even if you're wary of the former and have little time for the latter. Here's how to get inexperienced programmers tuned up fast.  Continue Reading

• 4 DevOps communication principles to get teams talking

  One of DevOps' supposed benefits is better collaboration and communication, but it doesn't come out of nowhere. Address these communication challenges to get everyone on the same page.  Continue Reading

• How to do API testing to improve application quality

  APIs run apps, so it's essential to test them beyond simple connectivity. Study these API testing basics, like when to run such tests, and the benefits of giving this task to QA.  Continue Reading

• Is RPA the future of test automation?

  IT organizations will use test automation, RPA and low-code development tools to create, assess and automate complex processes in the near future.  Continue Reading

• What to look for in code review tools

  Code review gums up the Agile, iterative works. Assisted and automated code review tools improve quality, and there's a mix of products out there for different workflows and needs.  Continue Reading

• Assess low-code platform pros and cons

  Some see low-code platforms as intuitive and time-saving, but security and compliance concerns could negate those benefits. See where low-code tools stand with these pros and cons.  Continue Reading

• Low-code platforms face off: Mendix vs. OutSystems

  Low-code products target different audiences. So, will traditional or citizen developers use low-code platforms more in the future? We pit Mendix vs. OutSystems to explore each approach.  Continue Reading

• How to perform test automation maintenance

  Automated tests run on their own, but they need a little help to stay in shape. Proactively address test automation maintenance with initiatives in these two key areas.  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

• How to tame ever-changing requirements in software development

  When one sprint ends, another begins -- but not before you receive a heaping new pile of requirements. Here's how to deal with requirements changes efficiently, every time, any time.  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

• 5 key ways to fulfill the role of QA in DevOps

  DevOps teams want production-ready code, which means someone in this fast-moving pipeline needs to think like a user. Enter QA, with its toolkit of exploratory tests, design review and more.  Continue Reading

• Working with Git branches and repositories

  With a grasp of just a few basic concepts and commands, developers can use Git's branching capability for feature development and experimentation, testing before release and more.  Continue Reading

• How to approach test case design

  To be a good tester, start at requirements and user expectations, then develop test cases that make certain those needs are met. Walk through the basics of test cases with expert Gerie Owen.  Continue Reading

• How to plot out a test automation strategy

  Test automation can deliver great value or immense frustration. Map out a winning approach that helps engineers learn test automation skills and doesn't leave them exasperated.  Continue Reading

• Try these 5 team-building activities for software developers

  Whether it's a soft skills workshop, simulated outage exercise or in-house tech conference, these one-day events get dev teams out of a coding rut. Plan yours now.  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 to become a UX designer with your QA background

  If you're a tester, a switch to a UX role is fairly simple. A range of UX design skills are just a matter of evaluating user needs before developers build the app code -- not after.  Continue Reading

• ALM tools face-off pits SpiraTeam vs. Jira

  Development teams must adopt an ALM tool that supports its procedures and objectives. Atlassian and Inflectra cater to different size dev teams. Which tool fits your needs?  Continue Reading

• How to build a test automation framework

  To create an automated testing framework, establish plans for test creation, tools, reporting, logs and maintenance.  Continue Reading

• Discern these open source license terms to avoid legal snags

  Fluent in Ruby but at a loss in legalese? Open source licenses obligate developers to observe specific conditions, so you must know these terms. Let's break them down in plain English.  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

• Define a continuous improvement process with EA models, practices

  Continuous improvement isn't just about centers of excellence or feedback loops. Ultimately, it must bring the vast enterprise architecture into rapid-fire code changes, and vice versa.  Continue Reading

• Contract-driven testing syncs API providers, consumers

  To check if the APIs your software depends on meet expectations, apply a consumer-driven contract testing framework. Let's examine the syntax, tooling and examples of this approach.  Continue Reading

• 5 common open source software licenses you need to know

  Everyone likes getting credit, but not everyone remembers to give it. Learn what conditions open source licenses impose, such as copyright notices and redistribution rules.  Continue Reading

• How GitHub and Bitbucket augment key Git features

  Learn how GitHub and Bitbucket enhance the Git version control system, enabling management and security on top of Git's native abilities to clarify workflows and protect data.  Continue Reading

• How to use Web Components with UI design tools

  What are Web Components and how can you best make use of them? Here's how the set of web APIs helps designers create and customize reusable modules for web apps and user interfaces.  Continue Reading

• How to make distributed Agile teams efficient and collaborative

  Agile teams don't always exist under one roof, but they should still be aligned in responsibilities and goals. Here's the best way to approach global Agile team management.  Continue Reading

• How autonomous software testing could change QA

  Manual testing takes too much time, and test automation scripts need ongoing maintenance. Autonomous testing might provide an answer for teams unwilling to compromise on speed.  Continue Reading

• How Agile and DevOps leadership empowers the whole team

  A dictatorial style of leadership doesn't cut it in Agile and DevOps shops. Here's how managers can ditch bad habits and instead encourage team experimentation and decision-making.  Continue Reading

• Learn which low-code techniques fit which projects

  There's an ideal time and purpose for low- and no-code development tools. And among those platforms there are various modus operandi, each apt for different apps.  Continue Reading

• Boost QA velocity with incremental integration testing

  The longer it takes to perform tests, the less Agile your team is. Here are four common approaches to integration tests that help reduce bottlenecks and delay.  Continue Reading

• What to expect from AI in app development tools

  If an IDE or test suite could truly do it all, would you want it to? See how AI is evolving in app development tools, from assists and prompts to full-scale code generation.  Continue Reading

• Enlist Jira for testing with these test management add-ons

  With the right add-ons, Jira users can turn the tracking product into a potent test management platform. Gauge your organization's Agile maturity, and then consider these options.  Continue Reading

• 5 factors for using open source code in proprietary software

  To make the best use of the vast and varied pool of open source software available, developers must be astute about what can actually best serve a project.  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

• Exercise risk management in Agile software development

  With iterative development, teams can deliver features and patches quickly. And project managers must vigilantly avert new and more severe risks that pop up along the way.  Continue Reading

• How low-code governance helps IT protect data, limit sprawl

  Low-code app developers must adhere to policies that govern data and resource usage. Lacking governance puts budgets, security and compliance at risk.  Continue Reading

• Take a shift-left approach, but avoid developer burnout

  Shift left is often a net positive for software quality. Yet, the change moves more tasks to earlier in the app dev process. Take care not to bury developers.  Continue Reading

• Select between distributed version control systems and tools

  Before you branch out with a new version control tool, assess the pros and cons of these different options, and make sure to ask for developers' opinions.  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

• Make application usability a priority -- wherever testing occurs

  Testers don't have time to fully evaluate apps before deployment. But poor-quality code simply isn't an option. Enter shift right and APM, two tasks testers must be ready to accept.  Continue Reading

• Secure open source components to bypass breaches

  As enterprises increasingly turn to open source code to cut dev efforts and costs, IT industry vendors recommend that they secure dependencies and deploy patches to safeguard apps.  Continue Reading

• Undertake software dependency management to reduce conflicts

  Apps can bind to dependencies with various levels of interconnectedness -- sometimes to deleterious effect. Here's how to approach software dependency management and reduction.  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