Imagine that you regularly use a banking application which fails to execute every second transaction. What would be your opinion of the bank issuing the application? You would likely not only be frustrated by the inconvenience but also lose trust in the institution, and might even consider switching service providers. This example clearly shows why it is crucial for companies to monitor the quality of their applications. Faulty software can not only result in dissatisfied users but can also be detrimental from a business perspective. In this article, we present three practical tips that can help improve the quality of software.
1.Tip: Introducing code reviews into the software development process
Code reviews are essential for identifying errors and improving code quality. These processes allow issues to be addressed early in the development stage, before the software reaches the customer. During code reviews, another developer examines the code to ensure its correctness, readability, and maintainability.
To establish an effective review process, a structured system must first be created. Every new piece of code should be reviewed by at least one other developer. Ideally, more complex codes should be reviewed by several developers. It is important to establish clear guidelines for code reviews, such as coding style, documentation necessity, and testing requirements.
Effective review processes can benefit from tools developed specifically for this purpose, such as GitHub Pull Requests, GitLab Merge Requests, or Gerrit. These tools support the code review process and provide opportunities for effective communication and collaboration among developers.
2.Tip: Documentation and knowledge sharing to improve software quality
Documentation and knowledge sharing are fundamental to ensuring the efficiency of the software development team and the sustainability of the software. Well-written documentation helps developers quickly and easily understand the system's operation, the code structure, and the relationships between components. This is particularly important when new team members join or when a project is revisited after a long period.
For software quality improvement, effective communication within the team is also essential. This includes regular meetings, workshops, and events where participants can discuss their experiences and new knowledge. Internal forums and document management systems also play a key role in the flow of information. Such practices ensure that knowledge is not lost, and teams can work smoothly together. When everyone has access to the latest information and documentation, the number of errors due to lack of information decreases, and organizational productivity improves.
3.Tip: Increasing unit testing and code coverage
Unit tests verify the proper functioning of individual code snippets. These tests examine smaller code units, such as functions or classes, in an isolated environment. The goal of unit tests is to cover every possible operational path and output of the code unit. Since these tests are specific, they are very fast and provide immediate feedback to developers about whether the code snippet is functioning correctly. This method is particularly useful in agile development, where frequent code changes and rapid iterations are common.
Measuring code coverage, which shows the percentage of source code that has been tested, plays an important role in improving software quality. The higher the coverage, the more likely it is that testers have examined a large part of the code, thus reducing the number of untested parts that might contain potential errors. Specialized software tools, such as TestNavigator, should be used to make the testing processes more transparent and efficient. Applying the three tips presented in our article can significantly contribute to improving the quality of software. With their help, maintenance costs can be reduced, as higher quality software generates fewer errors and problems, which consume time and money to fix. Moreover, thanks to these developments, users encounter reliable and easy-to-use applications, which can increase their satisfaction. This, in turn, can result in satisfied customers and loyal users for the companies.