Shift-Left Testing: Bringing QA In Early During Development

Being a QA, I frequently witnessed the chaos that comes with delayed quality assurance (QA) at the end of a project. If we talk about the traditional methods, quality assurance is done at the very end of the project causing a lot of issues and delays — especially if significant flaws are discovered later in the process. This particularly spiked my interest in shift-left testing. 

What is Shift-Left Testing?

Shift-left testing brings QA closer to the planning and design stages of the development lifecycle. It all comes down to testing sooner rather than later. By doing this, we can identify issues and address them earlier in the development phase. 

Why Shift-Left Testing is a Big Deal

Shift-left testing is appealing to me primarily because it enables us to detect bugs earlier in the process. Bugs may be buried deep within the code if we wait until the very end, and resolving them may require altering numerous other things. Fixing issues before the code becomes too complex is less expensive and simpler.

This strategy emphasizes frequent and rapid updates, complementing the agile and DevOps methodologies. Throughout the process, shift-left testing provides us with quick

feedback supporting continuous testing. It improves software quality and reduces time to market. 

How to Do Shift-Left Testing

When I started using shift-left testing, I found some specific steps that improved it. Here’s what

I’ve been doing:

1. Get QA Involved from the Start

I used to make the error of excluding QA from the original planning. Finding defects is just one of the many aspects of quality assurance with shift-left testing.

Early QA involvement can guarantee that the product we’re developing satisfies the

requirements and is simple to test. This collaboration results in a seamless development process and helps prevent misunderstandings. 

2. Try Out Test-Driven Development (TDD)

I’ve discovered that shift-left testing benefits from the use of test-driven development (TDD).

Before we begin coding, we develop tests using TDD. This helps in understanding exactly what the code should be to accomplish the desired outcome right from the beginning. Instead of waiting until the end, it’s an easy method to identify problems as I go. As a result, my code is now a lot more dependable and easier to upgrade. 

3. Use Automated Testing

Shift-left testing greatly benefits from automated testing. Although human testing has its uses,

automated tests are quicker and allow unlimited repetitions. For web testing, we use Selenium, while for other testing tasks, we use JUnit. I can configure automated testing to execute tests whenever I add new code, providing me with real-time feedback. 

4. Set Up Continuous Integration (CI)

A strong continuous integration (CI) system is necessary for shift-left testing to be effective.

The testing process is automated by CI technologies, such as Jenkins or Travis CI, which cause tests to run automatically anytime new code is added. This speeds up and simplifies testing enabling us to identify and address problems quickly. 

Challenges with Shift-Left Testing

Resistance to change: 

Teams are used to traditional testing methods and therefore resist the change. Developers and testers are hesitant to adopt shift-left practices as they are unfamiliar with early-stage testing. This push-back from the team made this transition difficult. 

Increased Workload:

Shifting testing to earlier stages means additional upfront efforts in writing test cases, setting up automated tests, and ensuring continuous integration. This made the overall development phase heavier. 

Infrastructure Setup:

Adopting a new method of testing requires investment in new tools and infrastructure, such as test automation platforms, continuous integration systems, and version control integration. Setting up and configuring these tools can be complex and time-consuming. 

Skill Gap:

Developers and testers may lack the skills necessary to effectively implement shift-left testing. To overcome this hurdle, we applied the method to smaller projects to ensure we overcome the fear of the unknown and gradually experience the benefits without requiring a complete overhaul from the beginning. 

Change in Mindset:  

Shift-left requires a shift in mindset from “testing after coding” to “testing as you code”. Convincing teams to prioritize quality and testing from the very beginning of the development lifecycle can be a challenge in itself.  

Why Shift-Left Testing is Worth It

All in all, shift-left testing has significantly changed the way I operate. I’ve decreased the quantity of bugs and raised the caliber of our projects by implementing QA early. I also feel more secure that we’re constructing something that works well from the outset. It ensures a more efficient, cost-effective, and collaborative development process while delivering high-quality software.  

Salman Saleem

Hi, I'm Salman, a seasoned Software Quality Assurance professional with over 6 years of experience in software testing. I'm proficient in both manual and automated testing for mobile and web applications. I've also led testing teams in various industries, including fintech, automotive, cloud, services, ERP, sports, and e-commerce.

Follow author on: