Software Testers Need to Constantly Learn New Technologies

When it comes to effective quality assurance, it's important that software testers keep up with the latest technology as well as emerging software development lifecycle methodologies. Given the speed of development and evolution in this area, individuals can easily fall behind the pack and struggle to stay updated with industry trends. Testers who are unfamiliar with the newest methods, tools and platforms are more likely to be pushed out in favor of those who have the relevant experience. With that in mind, it's never been more crucial for QA members to continue to learn about emerging tech and innovative approaches to testing.

One only needs to look at the shift from PC to mobile platforms in recent years to see how quickly the software industry can change. Testers who have refused to familiarize themselves with mobile platforms like iOS and Android have found themselves with a smaller pool of available projects to work on as the sector moves away from desktop applications.

Developing and testing for mobile is an entirely different beast than PC, particularly in regard to user interface and experience. There are many more factors to consider here, and team members need to be cognizant of the need for a broader view of QA that goes beyond simply identifying bugs and defects. How the finished product performs and interacts with end users is critical to determining the success or failure of a mobile app, especially given the amount of competition in this area.

Software testers also need to be constantly on the hunt for new methods to learn and deploy in their own projects. The advent of agile testing has revolutionized this field, driving many teams to largely move away from waterfall approaches. However, agile testing is just one of many methods that QA members can deploy. Guru99 listed more than 100 types of testing used today on its blog. Considering the number of variants to agile out there, that's an even greater number of possible approaches QA teams could leverage. All of these methods have their strengths and weaknesses, and software testing leaders need to analyze them thoroughly to determine which ones match up best with their teams.

Getting started with any new test management approach
With so many methods to wade through, it can be overwhelming to keep up with the times and stay on top of everything. Some testers may not even be sure where to start. Thinslices Mobile Development co-founder Ilie Ghiciuc suggested that QA professionals look to a number of sources to learn about new developments in software testing. Blogs, books and media outlets dedicated to QA trends are all great resources for individuals looking to build out their knowledge. Ghiciuc also emphasized how important it was for newcomers to the industry to expand their horizons even as they learn the basics.

"Any newbie in the testing game should prepare for learning as much as possible," he wrote. "Manual testing requires a lot of effort and determination, but keep in mind that it isn't sufficient for one's development as a professional. Additional skills and tools will need to be mastered during the game (automatic testing and basic programming skills are but a few), so an open mind will get you through it."