Why does DevOps Recommend Shift-left Testing Principles?

Introduction

Just imagine - You have poured months of hard work into creating a software product, only to have customers complain about bugs and glitches once it is released. You try to rectify the issues, but unfortunately, it is too late. The problems have already caused damage. As a result, the reputation of your product has suffered a blow.

Don't worry! Now, this is where shift-left testing principles come in. Using this testing methodology, we can catch and address issues before they become more significant problems later on in the development cycle. In this blog post, we'll delve deeper into the benefits of shift-left testing principles and how they can help your team achieve faster releases, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction. So, let's dive in!

What are Shift-left Testing Principles?

In traditional software development models, we do testing at the end of the development cycle. However, with the shift-left testing approach, testing is done much earlier in the development cycle, often at the beginning. The shift-left testing principles refer to conducting test activities earlier in the software development process.

The idea behind it is that it's much easier and less expensive to fix issues the earlier they're caught in the development process. This way, DevOps teams can avoid costly rework and delays.

Some common examples of shift-left testing principles include continuous testing, unit testing, and test-driven development (TDD):

• In continuous testing, tests are automated and run continuously throughout the development cycle, providing instant feedback to developers.
• Unit testing involves testing individual code units to verify they are working as intended.
• In TDD, we write tests before coding to ensure the resulting code satisfies specific requirements.

Overall, shift-left testing principles are essential for DevOps teams to adopt if they want to improve the quality of their software products while reducing costs and delays. By now, you may have a rudimentary answer to the question 'Why does DevOps recommend shift-left testing principles?'

What does Shift-left Mean in DevOps?

In DevOps, shift-left means moving activities earlier in the development pipeline, such as conducting testing at the beginning or during the process rather than at the end.

Shift-left in DevOps can also refer to shifting other activities, such as security and compliance, to the left of the development process. For example, instead of waiting until the end of the development cycle to address security concerns, address security earlier in the process, such as during the design phase.

Examples of shift-left testing in DevOps include:

• Continuous integration and continuous testing.
• Test-driven development (TDD), where tests are written even before the source code, and
• Behavior-driven development (BDD), where we integrate testing into the design process.

Examine the picture below:

The Benefits of DevOps Shift-left Testing

Why does DevOps recommend shift-left testing principles? Let's take a closer look at some of the benefits of adopting this approach in DevOps:

a. Reduce Costs for Development and Testing

• Shift-left testing can help reduce costs for development and testing by catching issues earlier in the cycle. It can also help reduce the time and resources spent on debugging and retesting.
• A construction worker catches a mistake early in the building process rather than waiting until the building is almost complete. This early detection can help save time and money in the long run.

b. Create Cleaner, Higher-quality Code

• Implementing shift-left testing can assist developers in producing cleaner, higher-quality code by detecting issues early in the development cycle, leading to more maintainable and easier-to-manage code.
• For example, rather than waiting until your home is in a complete mess, it is better to clean it regularly.

c. Coordinate Bug Resolution

• Shift-left testing can also help coordinate bug resolution across different teams. When testers and developers collaborate early in the cycle, they can efficiently work together to resolve issues.
• For example, you find a bug in a particular feature during testing. Under traditional development practices, the development team would receive the bug report, fix the issue, and then return it to the testing team for validation.
• With shift-left testing, testers, and developers can work together to identify the root cause of the issue and resolve it more quickly, reducing the number of cycles between testing and development and ultimately delivering a higher-quality product.

d. Save Time

• Shift-left testing can save time by catching issues early in the cycle, reducing the time spent on debugging and manual testing activities.
• For example, a team developing a new software product. Failure to implement shift-left testing may lead to detecting bugs only after delivering the product to customers. It would require the team to spend time fixing the bug and issuing a patch, potentially damaging their reputation and losing customers.

e. Ensure Customer Satisfaction

• Shift-left testing can also help ensure customer satisfaction by delivering higher-quality software products. By catching defects earlier in the cycle, teams can develop software that meets customer expectations.
• Think of it like a car manufacturer who rigorously tests every part of their vehicles before they hit the road. This attention to detail can help ensure that customers are happy with their cars and more likely to recommend the brand to others.

f. Agile Development for Increased Productivity

• Agile teams may guarantee that software is tested continuously by relocating testing tasks earlier in the lifecycle. This can lessen the chance that output will contain flaws.
• By lowering the number of flaws that must be repaired in production, shift-left testing can boost productivity. As a result, developers may have more time to work on new features and functionality rather than bug fixes.

In short, by reducing costs, creating cleaner code, coordinating bug resolution, saving time, and ensuring customer satisfaction, shift-left testing can help teams build better software products and stay ahead of the competition.

Defining the Way Forward: Applying DevOps Shift-left Best Practices to Your Project

After learning about the benefits of DevOps shift-left testing principles, you have a clear answer to the question, "Why does DevOps recommend shift-left testing principles?".

With this understanding, you may want to know how to apply the best practices to your project. This section provides tips on how to do the same.

a. Address Possible Testing Automation Challenges

• The increased need for testing automation can pose significant challenges for organizations that rely on legacy systems or manual testing processes. To address this challenge, organizations can consider adopting strategies such as automated testing procedures using tools like Selenium or Appium. It can help identify errors at an earlier stage of development, allowing teams to resolve issues more efficiently.
• Additionally, organizations can adopt a continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) approach to automate the entire software delivery pipeline.
• Hiring experienced DevOps professionals can also help with the adoption and implementation of automation tools and processes.

b. Use Automated Technologies

• In addition to automation tools, other automated technologies can help with shift-left testing. For example, continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) tools can help automate the entire software delivery pipeline, from code changes to deployment.
• CI/CD tools like Jenkins or CircleCI can help you catch issues early in the development cycle, reducing the risk of problems later in later stages. These tools are essential for maintaining a deployable state of your code, and it is critical to producing software products of superior quality.

c. Educate Employees

• Implementing shift-left testing requires a cultural shift within an organization. It's necessary to educate employees about the benefits of it and how it can help improve the software development process.
• Consider organizing training sessions and workshops to educate your team on shift-left testing principles and encourage them to adopt best practices. By creating a culture of continuous improvement, your team will be better equipped to catch issues early on and deliver high-quality software products.

d. Use DevOps Outsourcing to Fill the Skill Gap

• If your organization lacks the skills or resources needed for shift-left testing, consider outsourcing to a DevOps provider. It can help you fill the skill gap and leverage the expertise of experienced DevOps professionals.
• Partnering with a DevOps provider gives you access to shift-left testing tools and technologies. It can include automated testing tools, CI/CD pipelines, and more.
• Outsourcing services include managed services, cloud providers, and consulting firms, which offer services ranging from infrastructure management to process improvement and automation.
• It can also help reduce costs associated with hiring full-time employees.

Remember, the key to successful shift-left testing is to catch and address issues early in the development process. By applying DevOps shift-left best practices to your project, you can deliver high-quality software products that meet the needs of your customers and stakeholders.

Ready to Redefine Your DevOps Knowledge? Dive into DevOps Excellence with Our Specialized DevOps Course. Enroll Now!