Slow testing cycles and repetitive manual efforts are common problems in software development. As product updates become more frequent, relying only on traditional manual testing puts deadlines at risk.
According to the World Quality Report 2023-24, which indicates that 68% of organizations are emphasizing automation in their QA processes to better software quality. To solve these problems, teams must follow a systematic software testing life cycle steps and a mix method.
7 Phases of the Software Testing Life Cycle
Key phrases of the software testing life cycle are mentioned below:
1) Requirement analysis
Initially, QA teams thoroughly study the functional and non-functional requirements to find what needs to be tested. Inputs such as business requirements documents and use cases are analyzed in this. Any confusion needs to be clarified with the stakeholders.
Teams examine the feasibility of automating test cases that are based on the stability of features and the repeatability of results. Tools like Jira help map requirements to test cases and plan automation scope early. At this stage, teams also explore free testing software options to evaluate cost-effective solutions for small-scale automation needs.
2) Test planning
Test managers explain the test strategy and risks. Includes setting entry and exit criteria and choosing the right tools for test execution. In QA automation integration, the QA team selects test automation tools or frameworks such as vStellar or Selenium. CI/CD integration planning is finalized in this phase.
3) Test case design
Testers write detailed manuals and automated test cases, defining test data and expected outcomes. Test scenarios cover all functional paths and possible cases.
Automation engineers develop reusable test scripts that utilize frameworks like vStellar. They allow rapid script development and early execution.
4) Environment setup
A controlled environment simulating real-world conditions is configured to execute test cases. Includes setting up software and user permissions. Cloud farms, such as BrowserStack, are used to run automated tests across various devices and operating system versions to save time.
5) Test execution
Manual or automated tests are run, and actual results are compared to expected results. Any differences or defects are logged for analysis. In CI/CD workflows, test scripts are triggered automatically after each build using tools like Azure DevOps. Comprehensive logs and screenshots are generated for failed tests.
6) Defect reporting and tracking
All failed test cases are logged as defects, with severity and priority levels assigned. Testers work with developers to retest and confirm fixes. Tools can directly raise bug tickets in JIRA or Azure Boards. They attach failure logs or video recordings of issues for faster resolution.
7) Test cycle closure
In this stage, the QA team evaluates if the exit criteria are met. Test metrics, defect summaries, and lessons learned are documented. Test automation platforms generate auto-summarized reports with pass/fail status and execution logs. This assists stakeholders in understanding the quality of testing and readiness for release.
Why Should We Use QA Automation in the STLC?
Using automated QA testing tools in your STLC helps:
- Execute repetitive test cases faster and more accurately
- Boost test coverage across devices, OS versions, and user conditions
- Enable continuous testing in Agile and DevOps workflows
- Minimize manual defects and testing time
- Get real-time feedback and faster bug identification
Conclusion
Testing delays and human flaws happen when teams rely too much on manual efforts. As applications expand and updates become frequent, manual testing struggles to keep up. That’s why incorporating automation into the Software Testing Life Cycle is not an option. It speeds up repetitive tasks and ensures faster feedback.