You’ve found this page because you're committed to top-quality software and are tired of testing being rushed at the last minute, or worse, skipped entirely. Add the challenge of automation slowing down the process when it should be speeding things up, and you’ve got a real issue on your hands.

You might be asking, "What’s this ‘extreme shift-left testing’ you keep hearing about, and how can it help me?" Not to mention the eternal question: Why should I even care? 😉

Here’s the answer: With extreme shift-left testing, you begin automating your tests before the code is even written. That’s right. By the time sprint end rolls around, your automation is already in place, even if you're still working from just hand-drawn mock-ups or Figma designs.

You become the hero of your development team, ensuring that automation is ahead of the game from day one.

Let’s dive into how you can apply this game-changing approach to your software development life cycle.

What is shift-left testing?

Shift-left testing is a proactive approach that moves the testing process earlier in the software development lifecycle. Rather than waiting until the end of development to test code, shift-left testing integrates quality assurance from the start. This means bugs are caught early, reducing the risk of larger, costlier issues down the line.

The shift-left approach is often linked with continuous testing, where tests are performed frequently, often at the code level. It's an ideal way to keep your development cycle lean and agile while improving the quality of your software.

Benefits of shift-left testing

Now that you know what shift-left testing is, let’s explore why it's a must for any software team:

1. Early bug detection

Imagine catching bugs when they're just tiny glitches rather than waiting until they've become major headaches.

Starting testing early means that developers and testers collaborate throughout the project, finding errors sooner. This can save your team time, money, and a whole lot of frustration, as bugs are much cheaper to fix when detected early in the development phase.

2. Faster time-to-market

Who doesn’t want to get their excellent software out into the world faster? By embedding testing into the software development process from the start, you get continuous feedback that lets you tweak and perfect the product in real-time.

The result? A quicker time-to-market and a significant edge over your competition.

3. Enhanced software quality

We all know that quality matters, but how do you achieve it?

Early testing ensures that your code is clean and stable from the outset, reducing the chance of bugs emerging later. This leads to higher quality, more reliable software, and a more pleasant user experience, resulting in fewer support tickets and happier customers.

4. Better collaboration across teams

Shift-left testing isn't just about automating tests earlier; but about fostering collaboration between developers and testers from the beginning of the project.

When teams work together earlier, they better understand the requirements, reducing the gap between what developers build and what testers expect. This leads to smoother releases and fewer communication breakdowns.

The "extreme" shift-left testing concept

Here’s where it gets interesting: Extreme shift-left testing doesn’t just mean testing earlier, it means testing at the design phase itself.

That’s right. Forget waiting for software to be built. In extreme shift-left, you begin testing before any code is even written: using designs, sketches, or wireframes.

Why? Because the goal of testing is to ensure that the solution solves a problem, not to check whether the technology works. As long as you understand how the solution will work, you can start defining your tests, even in the mock-up stage.

Automate from the mock-up stage

Now let’s get practical. You don’t need to wait until your code is ready to start automating your tests. With TestResults.io, you can start defining and automating your tests even when you’re still working with hand-drawn mock-ups or early designs.

Here’s how it works:

1. Step 1: Begin with basic designs, whether it's Figma mock-ups or even MS Paint sketches. (Yes, we’re not above a good old MS Paint drawing. It’s retro, and it works!)
2. Step 2: Create a simulated environment in TestResults, linking your drawings and designs to each other.
3. Step 3: Start automating your tests based on this simulation. Yes, automation before the software is even developed.
4. Step 4: As the product takes shape, you can easily replace the mock-up with the actual visuals and text. The automated tests remain valid and ready to go.

When following these steps, you’ll be able to run the same tests on both the mock-up and the final product, keeping your test automation on track with your sprint goals and development cycle.

Putting it into action: Swiss railway system example

Here’s a real-world application of extreme shift-left testing:

• 00:00: Capture the user interface from a simple sketch.
• 00:49: Capture the timetable design.
• 01:30: Create test steps.
• 02:42: Run automated tests on the mock-up.
• 03:00: Adjust tests to the final user interface.

This smooth transition from a basic sketch to the final product showcases the power of extreme shift-left testing. When starting early, you avoid the mad rush of last-minute automation, making testing a natural part of your development process.

Why shift-left testing works

By integrating testing into your development process from the very beginning, you’re not just catching bugs early; you’re creating a culture of quality assurance throughout your team. Testing becomes part of the development lifecycle, reducing the risks of bad code and ensuring that your software development process is efficient and high-quality.

Building a culture of testing

Shift-left testing isn’t just about early automation; but about getting everyone in the development life cycle to understand the value of quality assurance. When the entire team—developers, testers, and even product owners—embraces this proactive approach, you ensure that everyone is aligned on building a stable, reliable product from the start.

Test coverage and continuous testing

One of the major advantages of shift-left testing is the enhanced test coverage you get early on. By integrating testing into the development cycle from the start, you're able to create a more comprehensive testing strategy that ensures all parts of your product are validated, from functionality to security.

Continuous testing can be integrated seamlessly into the software development process, making it an ongoing activity that happens throughout every stage of the development process. This provides a feedback loop that allows your team to make adjustments as needed and address issues before they become roadblocks.

Why you should start automating now

With TestResults, the shift-left testing approach becomes easy to implement. You can automate your testing even in the early stages, ensuring that your tests remain robust, continuous, and in sync with your sprint goals.

Remember, in the world of software development, you can either wait until the last minute and scramble to catch up, or you can take the proactive approach and start automating right away. The choice is clear. Don’t let automation be your bottleneck. Start early, start fast, and keep your tests on track with TestResults.

Ready to start your extreme shift-left testing journey? The time to automate is now—don’t wait for the code to be finished. Start early, start fast, and keep your tests on track with TestResults.