Challenges In Testing Multiple Applications In Parallel

The process of evaluating a system and/or its component(s) with the intent to find whether it satisfies the specified requirements or not, is called Software Testing. Software testing is carried out to:

• Determine if the software has any deficiencies.

• Validate the completeness of the application.

• Identify workflows that may have been missed and verify accuracy of others.

Software testers usually perform testing on a single application at a time. But in some cases, testers may have to execute testing on multiple applications in parallel. This makes software testing a challenging activity as the tester has to do multitasking, which in itself can be pretty hectic. Some of the challenges that testers face while testing multiple applications in parallel are:

1. Time Management

Testing of multiple applications in parallel requires a very strict time management, as every minute counts. Applications can be in different stages of SDLC and hence some might require more time and attention of the tester as compare to the others. In worst case, the state of all the applications could be same. In such instances, wasting time is a criminal offense.

2. Working Extra Hours

Testers will have to coordinate with multiple development teams and clients while testing multiple applications in parallel. The difference in their timings based on locations means that the tester has to work extra hours in order to coordinate with different teams and share the updates etc.

3. Resource Allocation/Management

Testers have to allocate and manage resources very intelligently while testing multiple applications in parallel. The test environments must be up & ready and available all the time so that whenever the next build is there for testing on priority basis, then there aren’t any delays.

4. Remembering Project Scope

A software tester has to remember the scope of the applications and should be able to differentiate between them. In best practices, a software tester doesn’t test two applications of the same category. But in case, if the applications are of the same category, then the tester needs to be more careful and attentive while testing as any confusion may lead to a disaster causing time and resources wastage.

5. Remembering Testing Scope

Apart from remembering the scope of the projects, a tester must remember the testing scope of each application as well. The tester must remember type(s) of testing to be performed on the projects he/she is working on. Execution of wrong testing type or on a wrong machine, operating system or browser would again cause waste of time and resources.

6. Updated Documentation

A software tester has to write and maintain all the documents related to all the projects assigned to him/her, including the test scenarios and test cases execution documents. Every document should be up to date for every application he/she is testing.

Testing multiple applications in parallel means doing multitasking and it is not as easy as it seems to be. One must have patience and enough stamina to go through the hectic routine that develops over the time while testing multiple applications in parallel. The only way to make up is to start working smartly, rather than working hard!