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Developing software applications with testing in mind

Portrait of Holli Taylor
April 14, 2022
5 min read
Multiple colleagues working in the office environment.

In the ever-evolving landscape of software development, the synergy between developers and testers plays a pivotal role in creating robust and high-quality applications.

While the roles of developers and testers may seem distinct, fostering a collaborative environment where these professionals work hand in hand throughout the entire development process is paramount.

At Leighton our developers and testers work closely to facilitate a seamless process that leads to superior software outcomes and avoids costly redevelopment later down the line.  

Developers contribute by crafting testable code, while testers focus on creating efficient automated tests. This synergy ensures an agile testing process that quickly adapts to code changes and can also help to identify any quick fixes in development that will avoid your team spending time building unnecessary automated tests later down the line.  

Developers can contribute significantly to making the testing process more efficient and effective by adopting practices that consider cross-function application across the project.  

There are a number of ways that developers at Leighton support testing throughout development including:  

Write testable code

Our developers design code with testability in mind. By breaking down complex functionalities into smaller, modular components it makes it easier to write and maintain tests. Equally, tightly coupling components and using dependency injection also facilitates easier testing.

Provide comprehensive documentation

The team offers clear and comprehensive documentation for the codebase. This includes inline comments, README files, and high-level documentation that explains the purpose and usage of different modules. Well-documented code aids testers in understanding the expected behaviour.

Collaborate with testers early

We involve our testers in the development process from the early stages. We discuss requirements, design decisions, and potential challenges to ensure that the testing team has a clear understanding of the project goals. Early collaboration helps identify test scenarios and edge cases upfront.

Unit testing

We implement unit tests for individual components or functions. Unit tests are essential for verifying small, isolated units of code. These can provide a quick feedback loop for developers and help catch bugs early on in the development process.

Integrate test automation

Our developers work closely with the testing team to integrate automated testing into the development workflow. Developers can contribute by writing automated tests for unit testing, integration testing, and end-to-end testing. This not only improves test coverage but also allows for quick and reliable regression testing.

Error handling and logging

We implement robust error handling mechanisms within the code and ensure that relevant information is logged. This helps testers and developers diagnose issues quickly. Providing detailed error messages and logging information also simplifies the debugging process.

Performance considerations

We are always mindful of performance considerations while coding. Our developers can help identify potential performance bottlenecks and work with testers to create performance tests that validate the application's scalability and responsiveness.

Attend joint code reviews

Our teams work cross-functionally and participate in joint code reviews with testers to discuss and address potential issues. Code reviews provide an opportunity to share knowledge, catch errors early on, and ensure that the code meets both functional and non-functional requirements.

The significance of developers and testers working together throughout the entire software development process cannot be overstated. By breaking down silos, establishing a shared language, and fostering continuous collaboration, teams can achieve a higher level of efficiency, produce world-class software, and ultimately delight end-users. The power of early collaboration and full team involvement throughout the process allows the team at Leighton to limit rework and ultimately ensure our customer’s journey is a successful one.

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Portrait of Holli Taylor
April 14, 2022
5 min read
All posts
Multiple colleagues working in the office environment.

Developing software applications with testing in mind

In the ever-evolving landscape of software development, the synergy between developers and testers plays a pivotal role in creating robust and high-quality applications.

While the roles of developers and testers may seem distinct, fostering a collaborative environment where these professionals work hand in hand throughout the entire development process is paramount.

At Leighton our developers and testers work closely to facilitate a seamless process that leads to superior software outcomes and avoids costly redevelopment later down the line.  

Developers contribute by crafting testable code, while testers focus on creating efficient automated tests. This synergy ensures an agile testing process that quickly adapts to code changes and can also help to identify any quick fixes in development that will avoid your team spending time building unnecessary automated tests later down the line.  

Developers can contribute significantly to making the testing process more efficient and effective by adopting practices that consider cross-function application across the project.  

There are a number of ways that developers at Leighton support testing throughout development including:  

Write testable code

Our developers design code with testability in mind. By breaking down complex functionalities into smaller, modular components it makes it easier to write and maintain tests. Equally, tightly coupling components and using dependency injection also facilitates easier testing.

Provide comprehensive documentation

The team offers clear and comprehensive documentation for the codebase. This includes inline comments, README files, and high-level documentation that explains the purpose and usage of different modules. Well-documented code aids testers in understanding the expected behaviour.

Collaborate with testers early

We involve our testers in the development process from the early stages. We discuss requirements, design decisions, and potential challenges to ensure that the testing team has a clear understanding of the project goals. Early collaboration helps identify test scenarios and edge cases upfront.

Unit testing

We implement unit tests for individual components or functions. Unit tests are essential for verifying small, isolated units of code. These can provide a quick feedback loop for developers and help catch bugs early on in the development process.

Integrate test automation

Our developers work closely with the testing team to integrate automated testing into the development workflow. Developers can contribute by writing automated tests for unit testing, integration testing, and end-to-end testing. This not only improves test coverage but also allows for quick and reliable regression testing.

Error handling and logging

We implement robust error handling mechanisms within the code and ensure that relevant information is logged. This helps testers and developers diagnose issues quickly. Providing detailed error messages and logging information also simplifies the debugging process.

Performance considerations

We are always mindful of performance considerations while coding. Our developers can help identify potential performance bottlenecks and work with testers to create performance tests that validate the application's scalability and responsiveness.

Attend joint code reviews

Our teams work cross-functionally and participate in joint code reviews with testers to discuss and address potential issues. Code reviews provide an opportunity to share knowledge, catch errors early on, and ensure that the code meets both functional and non-functional requirements.

The significance of developers and testers working together throughout the entire software development process cannot be overstated. By breaking down silos, establishing a shared language, and fostering continuous collaboration, teams can achieve a higher level of efficiency, produce world-class software, and ultimately delight end-users. The power of early collaboration and full team involvement throughout the process allows the team at Leighton to limit rework and ultimately ensure our customer’s journey is a successful one.

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