Rapid Software Testing – A Fast and Economical Approach

Rapid Software Testing (RST) is an approach to quickly test a software product to meet swiftly short delivery timelines. This strategy focuses on the critical software areas that might contain damaging defects. Read this blog to know what rapid software testing is & why we need this!

What is Rapid Software Testing?

Introduced by James Bach, a renowned personality in the software testing industry, Rapid Software testing is the need of the hour. 

James Bach states, “Rapid testing is a mindset and skill-set of testing focused on how to do testing rapidly, less expensively and with excellent results.”

This testing type combines skills, knowledge, and logical understanding that is implemented practically. RST is often called “ownable,” which means that a tester is practicing their version of RST and has the full authority to change or enhance the process. The testers performing Rapid Software Testing are responsible for explaining what they are doing and are to stay accountable for each of their tasks.

Why use Rapid Software Testing?

The RST approach is essential as it clearly defines the testing goals and focuses on the areas that are otherwise not considered. Here are a few points that determine using RST for your software product:

A software product is a combination of both emotional and rational thoughts: 

Yes, the software contains physical, logical, and technical aspects. Still, it’s also important to understand that human factors of the end users, such as psychology, cognition, and perception, dominate all these elements. A software product may be good from a developer’s view, but the end users might expect something else. Hence, quality software is a balanced combination of technology and user perspectives.

Software delivery is under continuous pressure: 

Developing a software product involves some complexity and confusion. These complexities may take more time to solve, reducing the time allotment to other tasks. With the pressure to deliver work on time, RST can reduce the testing time wasted in the documentation and focus on less relevant software areas.

It’s human to be careless and less experienced:

Except for RST, all other testing methodologies consider software development a perfect process without human errors. But, RST believes that it is normal to have some human error and proceeds with testing while considering this aspect.

RST is a cost-effective and faster approach:

RST is the least expensive software testing process that aims not only at testing but also considers testing every critical aspect.

Stay ethical towards clients and colleagues:

This fundamental principle of RST focuses on clearly notifying the clients and the developers of all the bugs without suppressing anything. This is important to deliver a quality product while working on the possible weaker areas.

Good read: Let the Automated Testing Tool Do Its Job

Conclusion

With a simplified and faster approach, Rapid Software Testing is more effective. It aims at considering all the aspects that are otherwise ignored by other testing methodologies. With no documentation and writing of test cases, it is considered to be purely an art of logical understanding and knowledge.