User Acceptance Testing Decoded
To build software that not only works but works well, developers must focus on three fundamental aspects:
Functionality
Usability
User satisfaction
User Acceptance Testing (UAT) is a critical process that aligns with the above.
In this article, we will explore UAT, its interaction with feature flagging, and its place within DevOps team workflows.
User Acceptance Testing: How Does It Work?
User Acceptance Testing is often the final phase of testing before software is released. The testing phase is designed to ensure that the software meets users' needs and expectations.
Here are the typical stages of User Acceptance Testing:
Test Planning: Defining the scope, objectives, and methods of testing.
Test Designing: Developing test scenarios based on user requirements.
Test Execution: Carrying out the tests and documenting outcomes.
Post-Execution: Evaluating results, fixing bugs, and retesting if necessary.
The goal of UAT is simple: verify that the software performs as intended from the user's perspective.
UAT In The DevOps Context
DevOps unites software development and operations to improve collaboration, increase deployment frequency, and shorten system recovery times.
UAT holds a significant place in this approach, playing a crucial role in:
Feedback Loops
UAT provides essential user feedback, allowing DevOps teams to make quick adjustments and improve the product.
Risk Mitigation
Early detection of bugs or usability issues during UAT can prevent costly fixes post-release and improve the product's reliability.
Feature Flagging
Feature flagging is a technique that wraps new code in flags, allowing teams to toggle features on or off.
In the context of UAT, feature flags bring two primary advantages:
Controlled Testing
Feature flags let teams test how new features perform with a small set of users before a full rollout. This can provide early feedback and ensure a more thorough UAT.
Rollbacks & Fixes
If a feature fails during UAT, feature flags allow teams to toggle it off without disrupting the overall system.
This enables quick fixes and enhances the agility of the testing process.
User Acceptance Testing: Closing Thoughts
UAT ensures the software fulfills user needs, feature flags provide control over feature deployment and testing, and DevOps encourages a collaborative and continuous improvement mindset.
Feature flagging adds an extra layer of flexibility and control in a DevOps environment and enables teams to perform real-world UAT and get actionable feedback.
This enhances the speed and quality of software delivery, making the process more user-centric.
If you are looking for an effective feature flagging tool, ConfigCat is equipped with all the features you need to succeed.
Using ConfigCat’s dashboard, you can enable and disable features even after your code is deployed.
