The open-source movement has become the most talked-about topic in the tech industry for the past two decades. We see a huge demand, inclination, and adoption of open-source software by organizations as well as software workers. This quest for open source will only grow with time, and as testers, this opens up an array of opportunities for us as well as testing and tech communities.



In this article, I have condensed my thoughts on <a href="https://testsigma.com/open-source-contribution" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Open Source</a> for Testers. I will discuss Open Source using the 5W1H (What, Where, Who, Why, When, and How) approach.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What">1 What?</a></li><li><a href="#Where">2 Where?</a></li><li><a href="#When">3 When?</a></li><li><a href="#Why">4 Why?</a></li><li><a href="#Who">5 Who?</a></li><li><a href="#How">6 How?</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="what">What?</h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/What-1.jpg" alt="Testsigma - Open Source for Testers" class="wp-image-18058" width="400" height="400" /></figure></div>



In terms of etymology, Open Source is composed of two words, Open, and Source. &#8220;Open&#8221; is a synonym for available, accessible, and transparent. &#8220;Source&#8221; stands for the source code or design.



In short, Open Source is any solution/program/project whose source code is freely available for use or modification from the original design. Open-Source solutions come under various licensing models which define the detailed terms for adoption, use, reproduction, and distribution.



<ul><li>In open source, a community or a group of people work together to achieve a common goal and share the output (updates/enhancements) back with the community.</li> <li>You might have already worked on open-source solutions even if you are a newbie. It&#8217;s everywhere and growing rapidly. Examples include:</li> a. Operating Systems i. Fedora ii. RedHat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) b. Programming Languages i. Python ii. C# c. Code-Based Automation Libraries i. Selenium ii. Appium d. No Code Automation Tools i. Testsigma</li></ul>



 “Open Source is a development methodology.”



Richard Stallman



<h2 id="where">Where?</h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Where-2.jpg" alt="Testsigma - Open Source for Testers" class="wp-image-18061" width="400" height="400" /></figure></div>



The following are some of the areas to watch out for if you are interested in knowing, learning and contributing to Open-Source:



<ul><li>Open-Source Communities</li><li>Open-Source Projects</li><li>Open-Source Organizations</li><li>Open-Source Mailing Lists / Forums / Discord Groups</li></ul>



 “The power of open source is the power of people. The people rule.”



Phillippe Kahn



<h2 id="when">When?</h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/When-1.jpg" alt="Testsigma - Open Source for Testers" class="wp-image-18069" width="400" height="400" /></figure></div>



A major reason for people&#8217;s enthusiasm for open-source contributions is the freedom that it gives them to work at their own pace and convenience. It can also be viewed as a passion project, hobby, or educational pathway.



 “Open Source can propagate to fill all the nooks and crannies that people want it to fill.”



Mitch Kapor



<h2 id="why">Why?</h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Why-1.jpg" alt="Testsigma - Open Source for Testers" class="wp-image-18066" width="400" height="400" /></figure></div>



Hopefully, you have already grasped the basics of open source and its presence in the tech/testing industry. We will look at some of the interesting prospects opened up by open source for testers:



<ul><li>Opportunity for Everyone: From beginners to experts, the open-source world always has something for you.</li> <li>Collaboration: Working on such initiatives will require you to collaborate with people from different backgrounds.</li> <li>Practice your skills: Learning a new skill/technology? Not sure where to practice/test them? Start with any open-source project and practice your skills. If you are a programmer, pick any feature/bug and try to add your implementation to it.</li> <li>Contribution Opportunity: If you fix any bug or implement a new feature, you can directly send a pull request to the maintainers and be an active contributor to that project. The opportunities for participation are not limited to coding, we will discuss other aspects of this in the later sections.</li> <li>Learning Opportunity: Open-source communities are full of experts and talented community people. If you go there with an open mind, you will learn a lot.</li> <li>Know about the state of the art: Open-source projects tend to use state-of-the-art solutions that provide opportunities to learn some of the most recent tech skills.</li> <li>Building your portfolio: As you begin your contribution journey, you will soon accumulate a nice portfolio of your contributions.</li> <li>Networking: Networking is often an ignored aspect of such initiatives. Nevertheless, it could open you up to many opportunities.</li></ul>



 “Once open source gets good enough, competing with it would be insane.”



Larry Ellison



<h2 id="who">Who?</h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Who-1.jpg" alt="Testsigma - Open Source for Testers" class="wp-image-18073" width="400" height="400" /></figure></div>



 <ul><li>Thanks to the digital revolution, open source is no longer exclusive to a small group of people. Instead, you will find a wide variety of people from all over the world.</li> a. In the Open-Source world, there are many contributor roles. Typical Roles are as follows: i. Developers / Programmers ii. Testers iii. Automation Engineers b. Similarly, contributor personas are also very diverse. Some of the common ones are: i. Working Professionals ii. Job Seekers iii. College Students</li></ul>



 “In <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/why-how-to-contribute-to-open-source-projects/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">open source</a>, to really do something well, you have to get a lot of people involved.”



Linus Torvalds



<h2 id="how">How?</h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/How-1.jpg" alt="Testsigma - Open Source for Testers" class="wp-image-18015" width="400" height="400" /></figure></div>



Once you understand the What, Where, Who, Why, and When, the most important question is HOW to start with the Open Source World?



Here are a few starting steps and checkpoints that will assist you in getting started with Open-Source:



<ul><li> Learn and get familiar with Git and Github:</li> i. Git is a source code versioning system. It will help you to collaborate on the source level. Git is used for source code versioning &amp; collaboration in nearly every open-source project I have seen. Those new to Git can find a number of good tutorials on YouTube / Udemy to learn the basics. Go for it! ii. Github is the most popular cloud-based code hosting repository which is used for the majority of open-source projects. It is quite simple to use and understand the GitHub UI, documentation, and guide. <li>Identify your Contribution Opportunity: As we discussed earlier, everyone has an opportunity to contribute. They can be seen under two major categories: a. Coding Contributions: This will include contributions that would require you to work on the source code. This might be something you should take a look at if you are good at programming. You can contribute towards: i. Product Features ii. Bug Fixes iii. Scripts for Unit Tests, CI-CD, etc. b. Non-Coding Contributions: You don’t always need programming experience to contribute. One of my first contributions was adding documentation and reporting bugs. It was greatly appreciated and gave me the confidence to work more towards open source. If you&#8217;re a first-timer or not sure where to begin, you can always contribute towards: i. Documentation ii. Guides iii. Raising Issues, Retest them, Providing feedback, etc. <li>Typical Flow for Contributing: i. Learn about the existing implementation ii. Modify / Add Something iii. Get it Reviewed, Send a Pull Request iv. Get Feedback</li></ul>



Positive feedback will most likely result in your Pull Request being accepted. Otherwise, you will most likely receive comments for improvement. Eventually, once your pull request has been reviewed and accepted, you have made your first contribution.



<ul><li>Take Initiative: You don’t have to always wait for someone to guide you on where to start. You can take initiatives and contribute to: i. New Features ii. Bug Fixes iii. Updates to Existing Features</li></ul>



Hopefully, you now have a good idea of how to get started as a tester with open source. If you are a complete novice, here are some tips from my personal experience:



<ul><li>Start with small issues</li><li>Build your confidence</li><li>Have a Learning/Accountability Partner</li><li>Have a Mentor</li><li>Get familiar with codebase/source</li><li>Know that this is a journey and not a destination.</li><li>Remember, there is always something for beginners.</li><li>Coding is not the only area for contributions. You can do non-coding contributions too.</li></ul>



For all our visual readers, I have summarized this entire article in form of this mind map. Check this out:







I hope this article helped you learn more about the various possibilities that open source has for testers!&nbsp;



 “In real open source, you have the right to control your own destiny.”



Linus Torvalds



 Happy Testing! Happy Exploring! Happy Collaborating!



 PC: <a href="https://www.freepik.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">freepik.com</a>

Open Source for Testers – What, Where, Who, Why, When, and How- 5W1H

The world is entering a new age of technology. Low-code/no-code tools are already becoming a mainstay for many global teams. By going no-code/low-code, teams can now fill in the gap between the accelerating demands of application delivery and team skill sets. While these tools are nicely on their way to becoming mainstream for development, similar ones for test automation are pushing their way into the market.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/7quM7iRgYklsMudYtgXRhKvPfz9oYH0PVeXVmUJmtfoP_8Ju55j9z-4GkpHBVqXAhLplgf9gLd9QVMdiXkl1-rAWhT0KGJ7GSPv8zDWgA8HqV0Z6XvApGCb6yWxCLuKdLtnS9a0P" alt="" width="300" height="300"/><figcaption>credits: me 🙂</figcaption></figure></div>



No-code automation tools are believed to solve the challenge of simplifying Testing for Agile QA teams at different levels, plus handling the growing complexity of the software itself. In addition, the adoption of CI/CD and continuous testing practices in the Agile world has changed how product development teams deal with their updates in many ways: release more and release faster than before.&nbsp;



Therefore, test automation solutions today need to make testing accessible to those with a certain level of coding skills and those without coding skills.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Agile_Testing_and_the_challenge_of_going_faster">1 Agile Testing and the challenge of going faster</a></li><li><a href="#No-code_testing_tools_helping_Agile_Teams">2 No-code testing tools helping Agile Teams</a></li><li><a href="#The_Future_of_Agile_Teams_and_no-code_automation_testing_tools">3 The Future of Agile Teams and no-code automation testing tools</a><ul><li><a href="#User_Acceptance_Testing">3.1 User Acceptance Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Exploratory_Testing_in_Agile">3.2 Exploratory Testing in Agile</a></li><li><a href="#Behavior-Driven_Development">3.3 Behavior-Driven Development</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Final_Thoughts">4 Final Thoughts</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="agile-testing-and-the-challenge-of-going-faster">Agile Testing and the challenge of going faster</h2>



Agile teams are constantly asked to do more with less and release faster without sacrificing the quality or increased spending. As a result, many Agile teams look to test automation to meet these demands from internal clients and end-users.



But, as we already know, traditional test automation comes with its fair share of challenges.



Many companies have invested a lot of time and resources into automation and those further behind in their automation maturity and strategy. As part of the current state of test automation, many companies have minimal levels of test automation today, mentioning that the reason for that is they don&#8217;t have the necessary resources to support it. One reason is a lack of skilled and/or experienced test automation resources.



Agile Teams that have achieved higher levels of test automation encounter a much more diverse group of challenges. For example, companies that have invested heavily in Test Automation believe they progress too slowly, and do not notice the expected level of coverage from it.



The challenges appear to be inhibiting the effectiveness and adoption of Test Automation. According to Forrester&#8217;s State of Agile reports, the percentage of automated test cases is barely growing. In 2015, <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/ApplauseMarketing/automate-qa-testing-easily-with-codeless-tools#10" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">49% of respondents</a> communicated they always tested manually. That number dropped to 46% in the 2017 version of the report but hit a plateau in 2019, where it remained at 46%.



<h2 id="no-code-testing-tools-helping-agile-teams">No-code testing tools helping Agile Teams</h2>



As we are aware, traditional automation requires experts in coding to script tests at the outset and maintain them over time. In addition, the complexity and need for different tools for automation like Appium, Selenium, element locator, locator strategies, and so on add to the complexity of traditional Test Automation and the need for specific expertise.&nbsp;<gwmw style="display:none;"></gwmw>



Some companies are misleading the QA teams and moving into development roles, which usually indicates that test automation projects get stuck midway through and are not fully completed, resulting in a massive waste of time, money, and people.



The value of no-code/low-code test automation tools, on the other hand, is that anyone can do it. With a no-code/low-code solution, a user moves through a test case, and the testing tools can transcribe that experience into an automation script. In addition, no-code/low-code testing tools were initially addressed only for web applications.&nbsp;



<button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="display: block;
 margin: auto;"><a href="https://testsigma.com/codeless-testing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff">Read in detail about Codeless Testing</a></button>



Today, many more tools offer the ability to run sessions and create test automation scripts on mobile (Android and iOS), API Testing, and some functional testing areas.



Although developing with no-code often accelerates the development process and enables more straightforward enhancements, DevOps teams should still perform testing and configuration reviews.



Using a no-code testing platform, we can significantly reduce the time and cost involved while also decreasing our dependence on test automation engineers. In addition, regular coders and even non-coders can now generate test scripts.



Finally, Testers can now focus on the business needs of the software, ensure customer-centric scenarios, and perhaps more test coverage.



Ideally, traditional automation and no-code testing tools should maximize the speed and quality of software delivered to end-users.



Still, I genuinely believe modern automation should use no-code testing and deliver high-quality applications faster.



<h2 id="the-future-of-agile-teams-and-no-code-automation-testing-tools">The Future of Agile Teams and no-code automation testing tools</h2>



Technology is constantly changing, but at this moment, there are no tools to build software tests that perfectly run and identify bugs automatically with a single click. However, we can&#8217;t deny that it&#8217;s easier than ever to run automated software tests faster with no-code automation tools using advanced AI and ML techniques.



<button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="display: block;
 margin: auto;"><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/scriptless-automated-testing-is-not-the-same-as-record-and-playback/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff"> Check out various codeless testing tools available now!
</a></button>



Agile Testing approaches that we need to include in our Scrum Teams:



<h3 id="user-acceptance-testing">User Acceptance Testing</h3>



Agile brought user acceptance testing into all stages of the software development process. Proper user acceptance testing goes beyond asking business stakeholders to explore the application, try out new features, and find issues. Instead, a successful UAT requires thorough planning and execution, just like any other test.



Keeping UAT in sync with specifications is challenging in Agile projects where changes happen frequently. In addition, due to its heavy focus on end-user Testing, UAT also overlaps with UI testing, which tends to be less change-proof.&nbsp;



One of the critical advantages of no-code/low-code testing tools is the speed you can create and edit tests. In addition, the speed boost you get from not having to code your tests makes it possible to cover new features with tests quickly.



<h3 id="exploratory-testing-in-agile">Exploratory Testing in Agile</h3>



Exploratory Testing is a cyclical method, progressing from design &gt; execution &gt; analysis &gt; learning before beginning the loop again. As we already know, Exploratory Testing can&#8217;t be automated; instead, Agile testers must create the exploratory testing session on the go, requiring the tester to use their unique skill set fully.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/YjpdAv10_MMATB2vN_vgKNkso4lP3RbHqhFJVdNIjqPCSIjIec1qLhjyCxXii6AWhoPckNdqp-9PGTjdtQqvs0yD0hL9RVV0fTXGoYIL_nJHfGD9HAWP4UJkkpbyFxEQh65dt1kv" alt="" width="400" height="400"/><figcaption>credits: me 🙂</figcaption></figure></div>



Exploratory Testing is the closest testers get to interact with an application. It&#8217;s a great way to find out if you have some working application quickly, and allow testers to identify bugs that would not be found through other testing methodologies. No-code/low-code testing tools can free up Agile tester&#8217;s time to perform Exploratory Testing sessions every sprint.



<h3 id="behavior-driven-development">Behavior-Driven Development</h3>



BDD is a collaborative approach that creates a shared understanding of requirements between the business and the Agile teams. Its purpose is to help guide development, reduce rework, and increase flow. BDD tests are customer-facing scenarios that try to describe the behavior of a Story, Feature, or Capability from a user&#8217;s perspective.&nbsp;



BDD facilitates the shift from functional Testing to automated Testing thanks to an understandable language that eliminates complex test script syntax (TDD).



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/NLP.png" alt="NLP(Natural language processing)" class="wp-image-17881" width="800" height="400"/></figure></div>



Many no-code/low-code testing tools facilitate the BDD approach providing a <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/natural-language-processing-nlp-based-test-automation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Natural Language</a> processor; if the test cases are created using Natural Language, they are understandable for users at all levels. Including Product Owners, TPMs, QA Managers, stakeholders, etc. It means any team member can look at the test cases and review them if needed.



In today&#8217;s Agile world, we can recognize teams who don&#8217;t want to use no-code/low-code automation tools and other groups willing to learn about those tools and apply them in their scrum teams.



A few years ago, I witnessed the same pattern between people who knew how to use Agile methodologies and those reluctant to switch from waterfall methodology (<a href="https://hbr.org/2019/09/when-waterfall-principles-sneak-back-into-agile-workflows" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AgileFall</a>).



<h2 id="final-thoughts">Final Thoughts</h2>



The greatest thing that can be done to ensure the success of <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/the-unpleasant-phenomenon-in-agile-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Agile Testing</a> for an application is to hire people who have the essential characteristics of an Agile tester and build a culture of self-organization and independent thinking in the entire organization.



Members of an Agile team need to learn and adapt different technologies and business practices in today&#8217;s Agile world. In addition, they need to know new tools and skills to be more productive and successful.



Agile testers must possess vast knowledge in different areas such as technical-based skillset, communication skills, collaboration with others effortlessly, experience in exploratory testing, and familiarity with various non-code/low code automation testing tools.



Last but not least, modern Agile Teams need to embrace a quality mindset. Therefore, we need to maintain &#8220;Quality&#8221; as a core value and take real advantage of the no-code/low-code automation testing tools to deliver high-quality applications faster.



Happy Bug Hunting!PC: <a href="https://www.freepik.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Freepik</a>

Role of No-code/Low-code testing tools for Modern Agile QA teams

Role of Low Code Testing Tools for Modern Agile QA Teams

Organizations worldwide are adopting open-source software to drive technological innovations. Testers look beyond the obvious benefit of cost while embracing open-source test automation tools. The reliability, transparency, flexibility are added <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/reasons-to-choose-an-open-source-test-automation-tool/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">benefits of choosing an open-source test automation tool</a>.



Saving time is saving money! Open-source tools save time reinventing the wheel to build your test automation framework from scratch.



“There is a wide range of open-source test automation tools available in the market today, but which one to choose?”&nbsp;



Most testers do not follow a structured approach when evaluating an open-source automation tool. This article will discuss the factors you need to consider for choosing a test automation tool.&nbsp;



1. DOES THE OPEN-SOURCE AUTOMATION TOOL MEET THE NEEDS OF YOUR PROJECT?



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/OwGnGphfu-FrMxYb7mLnhFE2tJc4zJPLcDOaUFWyqq__xa-YOUY07UWIQ2Vd-2AzrZCJ04sj5ZlIlQLPycGUJsikDD4temG074RjLhcbQMbIYjEIwlC7bFW3tJwFL8NEjIpVo0If" alt="automation tool that meets all your testing needs" width="600" height="400" /></figure></div>



Testers often fall prey to the bandwagon effect and pick a tool just because it’s widespread and everyone else is using it. Choose an automation tool that meets all your testing needs and fulfills the requirements of your project. Be clear about the problems you are trying to solve with test automation.



Perform a competitive analysis of the <a href="https://testsigma.com/tools/open-source-testing-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">open-source test automation tools</a> you want to consider.  Before making a choice, find answers to the following questions &#8211;



i. What features does the tool offer?



ii. Is it easy to install and run?



iii. What competitive edge does the tool have? How is it different or better than other open-source tools?



iv. Does the tool fit into your current testing processes?



v. Does your team have the necessary skill to adopt the tool? If not, what is the learning curve involved?



vi. Can the tool enable every team member to automate regardless of their scripting expertise?



vii. Can the tool integrate with your existing tools seamlessly?



viii. Have you checked the license of the OSS? Does it meet your needs?



Open source tools come with different license types. Don&#8217;t miss checking the license type before opting for the tool of his choice.



<a href="https://artkai.io/services/product-prototype-poc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Execute a POC</a> (Proof-of-Concept) before choosing an open-source tool to determine if the tool is a long-term solution for your team.



2. WHAT IS THE QUALITY OF DOCUMENTATION AVAILABLE?



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/g4zbVICC72W6y5WBOFFgrDv6mkR6ZzJNKaJZGUcLgcOGzt5eo6eVQhYOkY88w8BqqcaqMKb5JVNlLbLkqTOZCtehkvVF3yPELIKV_7Ft5fX_KR3EEBqBttHXbPWDg922fElnAxS0" alt="QUALITY OF DOCUMENTATION " width="400" height="400" /></figure></div>



Documentation is one of the significant factors to consider when choosing an open-source project. When documentation becomes an afterthought, it leaves the users in the dark and prevents them from achieving their goals.



High-quality documentation dramatically increases the likelihood of adopting an open-source tool. Most open-source projects start with a small team driven by developers. Developers enjoy writing code and not documentation. Furthermore, good documentation is time-intensive for a small team of contributors to create and maintain.&nbsp;



Before finalizing an open-source test automation framework, find answers to these questions &#8211;



i. Does the project have well-written documentation?



ii. Is the documentation easily accessible?



iii. Is it well structured and easy to understand for everyone?



iv. Are advanced topics covered in the documentation?



v. Does the documentation enable you to be self-sufficient and achieve your goals without hassles in the long run?



Documentation is an ongoing process and has to be updated regularly. Apart from the technical aspects and usage, documentation should provide insights about the current state of the software like open bugs, history of bug fixes, improvements, versions, etc.



3. HOW ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY? &nbsp; WHAT LEVEL OF SUPPORT CAN YOU EXPECT?



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Jx4OGXwtT7WV0B3v1EPX0r69K-FilQwSi9wt_iXnboxrd-Fcgt7X9JHxZQo6uEgmaFReJMvdW-gzRXJkQbGjJZ1lSLocrEpdEfpD6MCJ3VeVuJ7ZWJTNzqrh5MgKyPTANfjV4PgT" alt="HOW ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY?" width="400" height="400" /></figure></div>



Proprietary test automation tools offer premium support to their customers. You can contact the vendor when something goes wrong or if you need some assistance. However, unlike proprietary software, open-source tools are not backed by priority support. You need to rely on community support.



Some open-source tools provide paid support and access to experts to help you resolve your challenges. Hence before choosing any open-source automation tool, evaluate the following &#8211;



i. How well supported is the OSS?



ii. How can you get your problems resolved? Is there a ticketing system?



iii. Are there public groups, forums, blogs where the contributors actively resolve user queries and issues? Look at the responses from the community&#8217;s contributors to the questions; it indicates the support you can expect from them in the future.



iv. Is the tool supported by experts willing to share their expertise and knowledge with the community?



v. How long does it usually take to resolve the issue?&nbsp; How many open bugs are present?



The community plays a significant role in growing and maintaining the OSS. Look at the ongoing developments and the activities of the community. Figure out &#8211;



i. How big is the community?&nbsp; Is there an active support community willing to answer your questions and concerns?



ii. Is there an ongoing development of the open-source software you are considering?



iii. When was the last stable version of the OSS released?



iv. How frequently are <a href="https://usersnap.com/templates/feature-request" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">feature requests</a> and enhancements rolled out?



v. Does the community strive to share knowledge? What initiatives have they taken?



vi. Learn about the team behind the OSS and their plans. Is there a clear roadmap planned for the tool?



vii. What features can you expect in future releases?



viii. Does the automation tool have a future?&nbsp; What are the risks of the tool going tool being retired due to lack of funding?



ix. Which other companies are using the tool you are considering?



x. What are the reviews about the tool? Does the OSS have a good reputation for its reliability and ease of use?



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#CONCLUSION">1 CONCLUSION</a></li><li><a href="#LOOKING_FOR_A_TOOL_THAT_TICKS_ALL_THE_BOXESnbsp">2 LOOKING FOR A TOOL THAT TICKS ALL THE BOXES?&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#WHAT_TO_DO_NEXTnbsp">3 WHAT TO DO NEXT?&nbsp;</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="conclusion">CONCLUSION</h2>



When you go open source, choosing the correct tool is critical; otherwise, you might face barriers in the future that may prove to be expensive. Consider these factors discussed in this article before selecting an open-source test automation tool. Evaluate if the tool&#8217;s capabilities and offerings meet your testing needs and help you succeed with automation.&nbsp;



<h2 id="looking-for-a-tool-that-ticks-all-the-boxes">LOOKING FOR A TOOL THAT TICKS ALL THE BOXES?&nbsp;</h2>



Try <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a>! Testsigma is a <a href="https://testsigma.com/low-code-test-automation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">low-code test automation platform</a> that enables everyone in your team to automate without any prior experience. 



✅   Meets every need of your project &#8211; Get enterprise-grade features; Easily automate web, mobile apps &amp; APIs. Replace your fragmented toolchain with one single platform covering all test automation use cases.



✅ &nbsp; Comprehensive Documentation &#8211; Well written and easily understandable documentation that lets you get started quickly without any hassles



✅   Robust community and expert technical support &#8211; to support you in every step of your automation journey. 



Automate your tests for web, mobile, desktop applications and APIs, 5x faster and from the same place with Testsigma



 <button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff">Try Testsigma</a></button> 



<h2 id="what-to-do-next">WHAT TO DO NEXT?&nbsp;</h2>



<a href="https://discord.com/invite/5caWS7R6QX" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Join the Testsigma community</a>



<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/testsigma-raises-4-6m-from-accel-and-strive-to-simplify-test-automation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Know about Testsigma recent funding</a>



<a href="https://testsigma.com/customers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn how Testsigma to helps companies worldwide to accelerate their releases</a>



<a href="https://testsigma.com/testsigma-vs-other-tools" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Compare Testsigma with other test automation tools</a>

How to Choose the Right Open Source Test Automation Tool

A Testers Guide to Deal with Missed Bugs

Valentine’s day is a day to express your love to the other person 💞. You need not explicitly do this through words. Showing gratitude, care or making them comfortable all are signs of expressing love. 



But is it the same with people doing jobs together?



Relationships other than romantic ones often overlook this aspect of work that keeps people happy and make them stay for long &#8211; just like what happens in a relationship.&nbsp;



One such relationship is of testers with their reporting managers. A happy tester-manager relationship shows a direct positive effect on work quality. A happy tester stays in the company for long and provides valuable contributions constantly.



On a similar note, this valentine’s day, I have drafted a few points to strengthen your relationship and analyze areas to give special attention to.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Eliminate_the_nervousness">1 Eliminate the nervousness</a></li><li><a href="#Make_tester_comfortable_in_the_team">2 Make tester comfortable in the team</a></li><li><a href="#Involve_testers_as_much_as_possible">3 Involve testers as much as possible</a></li><li><a href="#Respect_their_way_of_working">4 Respect their way of working</a></li><li><a href="#Provide_support">5 Provide support</a></li><li><a href="#Surprise_with_rewards">6 Surprise with rewards 🎁</a></li><li><a href="#Whats_your_story">7 What’s your story!</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="eliminate-the-nervousness">Eliminate the nervousness</h2>



The initial part of any relationship begins with nervous individuals (like a newly joined tester). Unlike a romantic date, here one person – the manager, has a higher position and might have spent years dealing with new joiners. In any case, it is a new environment for the tester while the manager is already in his comfortable space. The nervousness, therefore, is only associated with the tester who just joined the organization and everyone is new to him.&nbsp;



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/lIi1_oFnYUc_VVQ_9kSwgL0trneos0X2RJs_5nKaB57D41R23q-wWXtFoQRZOwm8KwPRAHkTLcjY3ZtVGLqiGzX-bWpdDTokmOPFSWObvNPhEzQQ1vUfRWZ1AWJsru9Ncwk1LwBA" alt="Eliminate the nervousness" width="600" height="400" /><figcaption><a href="https://resources.workable.com/stories-and-insights/welcome-new-hire" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Source</a></figcaption></figure></div>



Here is the chance to eliminate a tester’s nervousness. Ask questions that allows him to open up and be comfortable around you. These questions can be either of his past work for which he can speak freely or just general questions. Once the tester gets comfortable, you’d be able to sense the confidence in his inputs.



<h2 id="make-tester-comfortable-in-the-team">Make tester comfortable in the team</h2>



The next phase of your relationship kicks in when the tester is all settled and is ready to contribute to the software quality work. This is an important part of your relationship as an initial impression of the work culture can impact his contribution and output directly.



The best way to make your tester feel comfortable is to start by asking your development team to have a unified working mindset. If there are bugs, consider them legitimate and appreciate the work. Sometimes development team do not get along with testers due to their opposite approach towards software development.



One thinks that the software is working and when bugs arise, a lot of the time developers are quick to say, “Well, it works on my machine!”.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/BNmEkvxIoPg2QRj8CmSgX6EtCOhv_OXMrXLzZglXkCoOfKM0FHSqOnFm9BWpfOawvqlsmuXxOXtKQrBZbsF9mcB2DLw7T6OtV4Kt8gpMcYqJZNm-8I4kqPYshmOc5uiucywYKOHV" alt="Make tester comfortable in the team" width="600" height="400" /></figure></div>



A tester should also be given ample time to perform his responsibilities. Bombarding the project a day before the release for testing and delivering is not a good approach to make your tester feel important and loved with your team.



On the contrary, it can make him stressed affecting the quality of work. A better way is to ask your tester how much time does he need to complete XYZ? Or in 2 days, how much can you complete? Consider all the phases of testing before setting any deadline such as verifying the bugs etc. Changing your approach with a small variation starting this valentine&#8217;s day can mean a lot to the tester.&nbsp;



<h2 id="involve-testers-as-much-as-possible">Involve testers as much as possible</h2>



Involvement directly shows how much you care about the person you are involving. The same feeling is experienced by the other side also. Unfortunately, sometimes testers might be left out in some areas where the manager thinks their work is different from what the discussion is about.&nbsp;



Involving the tester in sprints for better <a href="https://testsigma.com/ebook/in-sprint-test-automation-simplified" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in-sprint testing</a> will make them understand the current release-ready product. It will involve them in the development process that is always considered a good practice. Making them work on a version that has already been released can bring their morale down.



To strengthen your relationship, ask the tester to give as much input as possible. What do you think about this? Do you see any flaws in the planning? etc. This can make him feel important to the team and loved by the teammates.



<h2 id="respect-their-way-of-working">Respect their way of working</h2>



Each person has a different way of working things and I&#8217;m sure your tester will have his/her way too. Unless he is a fresher, he might have failed repeatedly and settled on a methodology that he would have found successful and efficient. This may or may not be the way in which you or your team works. Let’s start by respecting the methodology rather than imposing our own on the tester.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cFoa3cxnEvQ4JVGkEeVLf8jXBYmCa3D-mIK61D-s988xrMu-L6KdgqoUU_Khh7GkJ9Fc1RIC3fSR_IVF0eeOGTuZ3svk7YwrqCG3FFRS_XGVsKTRts1cW2fUrAaROxU-8BUt4VR7" alt="Respect their way of working" width="600" height="400" /><figcaption><a href="https://www.wikihow.com/Main-Page">Source</a></figcaption></figure></div>



In addition, you should not only let him work his way but understand what his methodologies are. Maybe it is better and more efficient than how you currently work and you may like it. Even if you don’t, it will help in planning for future activities with respect to the way of work.&nbsp;



<h2 id="provide-support">Provide support</h2>



A good relationship always expects that people support each other in hardships and acknowledge prosperity. The same implies to a tester and manager relationship. There cannot be defined parameters for this section though. For instance, support may extend when the tester has delayed in delivering the tasks on time. Or answering a small (or silly) question patiently and in detail just like answering any other question.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Muwn3gSuRQLMBzrUaL4faBNkhpOEeV-UfmLRlW3f5dJaEN5LmAgyCganHFA1Nm1Q3u-mdgADcWt2JffvpEN8J3hiVru1Opy9ebnAOCNjGern1ssRnaPSC7W4ZrLx-8dLReJw3mZ7" alt="Testsigma - Provide support" width="600" height="400" /><figcaption><a href="https://www.hrinasia.com/employee-relations/how-to-give-employees-the-assistance-they-need-when-they-need-it-the-most/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Source</a></figcaption></figure></div>



A new tester may need more support from his manager as he is constantly figuring out different things about the organisation. Being readily available over chat or email (especially in work from home arrangements) is the best thing you could start doing from this day!



<h2 id="surprise-with-rewards">Surprise with rewards <a href="https://emojipedia.org/wrapped-gift/">🎁</a></h2>



The final thing you need to keep in mind to always maintain your relationship strong is surprising your tester frequently. Acknowledging someone for their work motivates people to do more. Not only this, they feel more comfortable and friendlier around you which is a sign of a growing relationship. Just like in a romantic relationship, surprising with <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/what-to-gift-your-software-tester-friend-if-you-were-the-secret-santa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gifts</a> also keeps your relationship healthier and the tester (or any employee) would feel valuable in the company. This increases retention and gives a bond with the employee for life.



<h2 id="what-s-your-story">What’s your story!</h2>



With the end of this small discussion on amplifying your relationship with your tester, I am sure you would have recalled your instances too. From making your tester comfortable in the new environment to providing him support in every hurdle he faces, there is always something unique about each relationship. In the comment section, let’s hear out your relationship with your tester and how you make sure that he is always appreciated.

Amplify your relationship with testers this valentine’s day!

How to contribute to open source projects

Why & How to Contribute to Open Source Projects?

Reasons to Choose an Open-Source Test Automation Tool

Top 4 Reasons to Choose an Open Source Tool for Test Automation

One day suddenly the whole world locked down to prevent the pandemic from being spread uncontrollably. When machines and factories were all stopped &#8211; your social media, mobile applications, and all the digital world was still operating at the same pace as before. 



Even if you did not notice, millions of developers and testers worked from their homes to keep you online and help you share your thoughts, purchase essential supplies and view live news.



What started as a necessity has now become a new normal in the information technology industry. <a href="https://kissflow.com/digital-workplace/remote-work/shocking-work-from-home-statistics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">More than 55% of industries have now been permitted</a> to work from home even when the pandemic is over. 



Maintaining the same efficiency as the in-office setup is not possible if you are indulged in a complicated connection of multiple tool &#8211; you would need a good tool that not only supports but facilitates the work no matter what location you are working from. 



In this post, we will discuss one such tool along with a few points that make our remote life easy. How the tool manages in these situations, is the crux of our post.



For simplicity, I have divided this post into two different sections &#8211; technical and management &#8211; how <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Testsigma, a completely cloud-based test automation tool</a>, supports team members in both these domains while they work from home. Both of these sections focus on their respective expert areas with respect to Testsigma.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Technical_capabilities">1 Technical capabilities</a><ul><li><a href="#Cloud-based_infrastructure">1.1 Cloud-based infrastructure</a></li><li><a href="#Scalable">1.2 Scalable</a></li><li><a href="#English_based_scripting_using_NLP">1.3 English based scripting using NLP</a></li><li><a href="#Integration_with_tools">1.4 Integration with tools</a></li><li><a href="#Support_for_multiple_testing_methods">1.5 Support for multiple testing methods</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Management_capabilities">2 Management capabilities</a><ul><li><a href="#242157_Support">2.1 24&#215;7 Support</a></li><li><a href="#Collaborative_editing">2.2 Collaborative editing</a></li><li><a href="#Role-based_responsibilities">2.3 Role-based responsibilities</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">3 Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="technical-capabilities">Technical capabilities</h2>



This section describes the technical capabilities of the tool Testsigma, for software <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">test automation</a>, that help the team execute tests smoothly.



<h3 id="cloud-based-infrastructure">Cloud-based infrastructure</h3>



The first requirement for working from home efficiently is to use a tool that is available over the cloud network. Testsigma checked this point even before the pandemic arrived. 



Cloud-based systems provide a two-fold advantage to the team. Firstly, it is available anywhere and everywhere you want it. You can sit in India or the United States or use my PC or your friend’s, you just have to log in and all your work will be visible to you right away.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/vc0NmnGBM9HWbF18KEfCDEVDhbAF9PIbYCWMDWFH7Ve6p-y9NwdADs9YqYipY4SIHZxdnAzXzfsUmGTV7Bb2qh5HeNjIBgFdpxKfA6URuPSX_25JgXd9J9pzv0knLB31qHZTRnHr" alt="Cloud-based infrastructure" width="600"/></figure></div>



Secondly, cloud-based systems do not eat up your personal resources that can have a huge impact on test execution. Consider you are running test scripts on one application while writing test scripts in another framework on a 4GB system. 



This can slow down the process and delay the test results. Since you are working from home, there is no other system to share the load also &#8211; Testsigma, a completely cloud-based test automation tool, lets you use your own resources for other works while providing their own powerful infrastructure to assign machines and run tests on them. As far as your personal system is concerned, an internet connection and a browser are all you want.



<h3 id="scalable">Scalable</h3>



A project, no matter how much potential it has, always start small, slow, and then eventually scales up with time. But even if you have a small team working remotely, scalability is always kept in mind for the future. 



If you are at a point where you are scaling constantly but the tools you are using have given up on you, the whole project can face a downtime which is bad for business and reputation.



Testsigma comes with scalability features for all types of teams &#8211; an individual, a team, or a complete organization. Testsigma works on the cloud infrastructure and therefore if you have a requirement to scale up your testing, you can do that just by clicking a couple of buttons with the comfort of sitting at home. 



This way you not only save a lot of time but you pay only for the number of resources you use and hence speed up the delivery.



<h3 id="english-based-scripting-using-nlp">English based scripting using NLP</h3>



Your legacy test code may be written in a programming language that your testers may or may not know. The same situation comes for frameworks that support only a couple of languages.&nbsp; To make changes to that code and write test scripts of their own the testers have to learn that supported programming language and then understand the legacy code. 



This problem can be faced either remotely or in-office. But what happens in such a scenario is that when people try to understand the code, they face a lot of problems in either understanding the logic or the flow of the execution. 



Resolving this issue in the office is easy. You just have to go to the tester/developer’s desk or someone who has already worked on it and get a bit of knowledge transfer or support from them. The work is done.



In a remote office setup, the only option is to either call or chat through your preferred application. This can be a lot of pain as people are busy and as a result, the process can extend to multiple days. 



Testsigma offers a straightforward and simple solution to this. The tool comes equipped with <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/ai-driven-test-automation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">artificial intelligence</a> and <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/smart-test-automation-using-nlp-what-you-should-know/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">natural language processing</a> capabilities. In simple words, it lets you do the simple work and perform the harder job by itself by asking you to write the scripts in plain English language.



The following image demonstrates a test script written to navigate to a particular website:



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/8UJPNCOb5xo8UNY87ZPUP0MKu-EurmSyxjQRHMOtBEZyzlGIAp0aXsuHUDMQ7Hi2iVbkslqH7ggyCtzhTv40UezT0xVDaZH0BRQZMSrEhTeldx3fAbfOxmX3q4ovIDvxi44iJIdx" alt="Testsigma NLP based test" width="800"/></figure></div>



So when a new person looks at your legacy code, it is just like reading English sentences (refer to the above image). The process of completing the testing then becomes faster even while sitting at home.



<h3 id="integration-with-tools">Integration with tools</h3>



Software integrations need no introduction to the people working in the software industry. There is no perfect tool that has everything in-built into it. We have an awesome bug tracking software while another awesome cross-browser testing device lab etc. A good tool is one that can join all the integrations and provide you with convenience on a single screen.&nbsp;



Testsigma takes care of all the necessary integrations that the testers can use from the platform and make use of it as required.&nbsp;



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/5a63PBbKVxB1I8hirP3yNbPTSEWwG3kHeN4vH-TDdYRrGQeBJYeg54gR3pbKnJxQFChWSLD9C86hPr3AsVmecvRitLs0HnAwSlzk38gmC1hsaDicWbuwzVhTgHBULqELPe-CbshA" alt="Integration with tools" width="800" height="448"/></figure></div>



You can also find the most important aspect of testing &#8211; integration with CI/CD tools for smooth build and test phases on each version. You can visit the integrations page to know more about the integrations that you may require.



<h3 id="support-for-multiple-testing-methods">Support for multiple testing methods</h3>



Software testing is a big umbrella that contains a lot of sub-testing processes that ensure that the released software is of top quality. These may include <a href="https://testsigma.com/regression-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">regression testing</a>, <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">automation testing</a>, mobile app testing, cross-browser testing, etc. 



For all these things to work remotely, you might have to go for one framework that can do data-driven testing, another for automation, etc.&nbsp;



Testsigma brings every sub-testing process onto a single platform giving the freedom to the tester of choosing anyone or using all of them as per the requirements. With Testsigma, you don’t have to switch to various frameworks and learn each of them. 



The tool provides robust data-driven testing, regression testing, cross-browser testing, automation testing, and much more for the teams. While working remotely, if you are learning just a single software for all your needs, you can speed up the cycles.



<h2 id="management-capabilities">Management capabilities</h2>



This section describes the management capabilities of the tool that play an equal role in increasing efficiency and productivity while working remotely.



<h3 id="24x7-support">24&#215;7 Support</h3>



The most important part of working remotely as described in the NLP section above is the need to understand the framework or tool you are working on. 



If you are stuck anywhere, you just have two options &#8211; either google it, find the solution and try if it works or you can ask anyone from your team who has already worked on the framework before. While working remotely, both of these options have a high probability of failure as you are not physically present to ask anyone.



Testsigma understands that while working remotely, you may face a problem that needs to be solved urgently whether it is day or night. Therefore, the tool comes with 24-hour support every day so that your work never suffers at any time and you have someone to clear your queries from.



<h3 id="collaborative-editing">Collaborative editing</h3>



Collaborative editing is a process combining two terms &#8211; collaboration and editing. Collaboration means you have a platform that can facilitate sharing the documents, progress, reports etc. 



If I am done with a testing process, maybe I can send my reports from the same platform or it gets shared automatically to the team etc. In simple words, even if we are remote, the team gets an organized set of documents at their disposal. Collaborative editing is however a bit different than just collaboration.&nbsp;



For example, Google docs allows collaborative editing in which instead of sharing a copy of the document, we share the link to the same document with another person. The receiver can then edit the same document and I can see the changes. 



This is an important feature to look for while working remotely because it can get really messy if we start sharing multiple documents to the complete team and then look at the changes by each of them. It can become a small GitHub of our own but more complicated than that.



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank">Testsigma, a completely cloud-based test automation tool</a>, provides collaborative editing to its testers for not only sharing the test cases with the team but they can also provide their suggestions on the same test case while working from the comforts of their homes. 



This way, the whole team can see the changes on a single document and there is no complications or confusion to address.



<h3 id="role-based-responsibilities">Role-based responsibilities</h3>



In-office setups often work in different environments and are controlled by either credentials or access roles assigned in the backend that can restrict unauthorized access. When we are working remotely using a tool, this becomes a problem as now you are connecting to the tool’s server rather than using your own. 



Consider a scenario where you are two team members working on the same project and hence share all the files. But, since your teammate is in a senior position, he has access to deleting a file that you don’t. He can also create a new task for you or himself. If in any way, you can also do the same action as he does, it becomes a security loophole especially when contract employees are on board.&nbsp;



Testsigma comes with the user access levels to predefine who has access to what in the tool. You can also create custom roles and define access to them as per your requirements. While working from home, this becomes very helpful as you don’t have to create another layer through yourself when the tool covers everything for you.



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<h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



 Working from home has become a new normal in the IT industry. Not only it has become convenient but <a href="https://kissflow.com/digital-workplace/remote-work/shocking-work-from-home-statistics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">more than 75% of employees find it more productive</a> than in-office work. It seems like working from home will continue for some time now and for IT, it is not easy. 



The remote setup leaves us with the only option of using chat or calls to connect with someone and resolve our queries. Using multiple tools for multiple purposes just increases the query count a lot more which then results in the delay of work, projects, and fewer test cycles as before. 



The need of the hour is a tool that is complete in itself and can provide you with the functionalities of all the individual tools in a single place. Testsigma fits perfectly in such a scenario providing the tester with a platform that can help in automation, cross-browser testing, regression testing, and many more types.



Testsigma is a completely cloud-based test automation tool built on a robust infrastructure providing a clean interface and centralized testing experience to the organization, meanwhile, enhancing the work from home experience too.



Testsigma presents a unique style of writing the tests in the English language that helps in easy test creation. All these features help testers in work from home setup as learning becomes very easy and with 24-hour support, one dedicated person is always there for you. With Testsigma, you just have to focus on testing and the rest is taken care of by the tool.



We tried our best to highlight how the test automation tool Testsigma can smoothen out your work from home. However, if you would like to query anything else about the tool, feel free to contact our support. Also, we would love to know your thoughts in the comments below.

Simplify your work from home challenges with test automation tool Testsigma

Simplify your Work from Home Challenges with Test Automation Tool Testsigma

Communication is the key to managing the stakeholders. Many times, not enough efforts are made to communicate clear details, status, risks on the ongoing projects. On the other hand, not everyone can detail every important aspect or gauge what’s important to communicate without being subjective and setting aside all emotions during communication.&nbsp;



Usually, Engineering teams are focused on their work and do not put a lot of emphasis on communication and highlighting the risks with all the data. Even when they do, the usual sentences will be ‘should be able to complete on time’, ‘too many bugs’, ‘not ready’, &#8216;looks good’ which are all subjective in nature and do not really convey the information that helps in making a decision. Often there are assumptions that communication happened or that everyone knows all the details. This leads to management being in the dark on important aspects.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Untitled-1.png" alt="George Bernard Shaw Quote" class="wp-image-16688" width="329" height="242"/></figure></div>



One way of ensuring <a href="https://www.chanty.com/blog/guide-on-effective-communication/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">smooth communication</a> is to have proper data to represent the status and risks.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Metrics_in_SDLC">1 Metrics in SDLC</a></li><li><a href="#When_and_when_not_to_use_Metrics_in_SDLC">2 When and when not to use Metrics in SDLC</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="metrics-in-sdlc">Metrics in SDLC</h2>



Metrics are pure data. They show you numbers without emotions which is the most important factor in analyzing the data. The real problem, in SDLC, starts when these metrics are considered as a single source of truth or when they are taken up as absolute measures or when used inappropriately.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="358" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-XPcvwEhd3Kcm.jpg" alt="Goodhart's law" class="wp-image-16693"/></figure>



A few notable points on metrics:



<ul class="list_style_disc"><li>Metrics are indicators of current or past conditions&#8211;they are not THE truth. The proper initial response to any metric anomaly is to investigate, not act.</li><li>The more a quantitative metric is visible and used to make important decisions, the more it will be gamed.</li><li>Be careful what you measure because that is what you are going to get. You should measure things, but understand when to make them as targets.&nbsp;</li><li>Vanity metrics makes you feel good, they cannot be used for decision making.</li></ul>



Also Know: <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/v-model-in-software-development-life-cycle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">V model in SDLC</a>



<h2 id="when-and-when-not-to-use-metrics-in-sdlc">When and when not to use Metrics in SDLC</h2>



There are some metrics that are absolutely useful while there are others that are mostly misleading or distracting, more of a Vanity metrics or that can be easily gamed. In other words, not well thought of. Every Manager, every leader at some point goes through the process of picking a wrong metric, getting carried away with the same.&nbsp;



Always ask questions before you pick a metric:



<ul class="list_style_disc"><li>Will they be gamed?</li><li>Are we choosing Vanity metrics?</li><li>Do we need to use this metric as a measure?</li><li>Do we need to publish this metric?</li></ul>



Learn More: <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/entry-and-exit-criteria/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Entry and Exit In SDLC</a>



Take for example &#8211; ‘Zero technical debt’ as a Metric &#8211; this means all bugs identified, during the SDLC, should be fixed and cannot be left in the backlog. If we start measuring teams on this metric, the whole focus will be on fixing every bug even if it’s from a feature that no customer has been using,&nbsp; even in cases when it’s impacting the new features and so the customer adoption.&nbsp;



There are a few metrics that we should watch silently, during the SDLC, to understand how the team is doing, to understand what needs to be improved in our process. If you upfront publish these metrics as measures, they will eventually be gamed.&nbsp;



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Metrics in SDLC: Let the Truth Prevail

How does Testsigma support the Shift Left approach?