Representing a joint taskforce of testing and operations, TestOps is the step into the future for the traditional testing processes implemented through the software development and release pipeline. It is really a way to maximize the efficiency of the reviewing process for developed products, whilst ensuring that due process is observed in terms of maintaining the quality of output and product. It integrates automation, which is a vital part of the contemporary and future facing parts of the whole process. It’s an essential step towards the right direction in terms of redressing some of the glaring problems and inefficiencies with traditional testing modes. Let’s take a look at how it all works and why it is an important advancement looking forward.
What’s New?
In the majority of traditional testing practices the devs and the testers would operate independently of one another. There would be some interaction naturally, but it is largely a division of labor with pretty limited interaction. “Previously, testers were still doing some of the jobs that devs now do as part and parcel of putting together clean, well comprised code that is, crucially, bug free. This then allows testers to put their focus elsewhere onto big things like production and data management for test running, not to mention the vast amounts of analysis needed”, writes Anthony Pit, tech blogger at Paper Fellows and Academized.
In direct connection to this update in the specific roles played, the unit known as Operations (or, Ops) has made alterations, no longer needing to handle as much quality checking and testing, since a good degree of this is now in the tester ballpark. This is a privilege for an Operations unit, since their time can be spent on other issues pertaining to the release of the product.
Overall, there is a new attitude to the role of testing, the speed with which it can be achieved and the position within the pipeline that it should take. Testing is no longer a linear route to analysis and subsequently quality assessment as more can be achieved with greater ease before, during and after the pure testing phase. It shares the workload subsequently freeing each unit up for managing other, more valuable tasks which optimizes the pipeline as a whole.
Continuous Everything
One of the biggest advantages to TestOps is the volume of work it allows to be done at any one time. “TestOps is a continuous process which carries out three distinctive tasts at once, build, validation and delivery. The continuous build element gives you an excellent focus on lifecycle, managing the release of products and the path to it. Validation is all about implementation of the tools and processes, whilst the continuous delivery element maintains the product and code quality, so that release can happen at any given moments”, explains Rose Wagner, dev at AustralianHelp and StateOfWriting. The ongoing nature of the TestOps process gives it an extraordinarily flexible approach to the state of a product, with testing not requiring any sort of conclusion to operations elsewhere in the pipeline. It enhances communication between the different elements of the process in a way which makes life a lot easier for everyone involved.
Features
TestOps gives you a number of different features all of which are effective at improving and maintaining the improved standards of the workflow optimization. For starters, it’s a highly transparent process, with every department given an insight in what all of the other departments are doing. Secondly, it allows an obvious application of tests and a clear indication of when a test is appropriate for implementation. The automated examination of post-test code speeds the whole process up. Thirdly it allows for continuous activity, rather than delays for every test. Finally, it gives a team the opportunity to implement tests at any point in the process, even when the software release is imminent or in process.
Conclusion
TestOps implements a degree of flexibility and a reinforcement of the value of automation in such a way that it is instantly a must pick for any development to release pipeline. It is primarily useful in how well it optimizes the experience and encourages separate departments to interact with one another to get the best from everyone.
