Are you looking for ways to accelerate the development process and reduce costs? Shifting testing to the left (pulling testing earlier into your development cycle) should be on your radar. Automated testing is a practice that helps accelerate your flow of value to the market, and if you haven't started building automated testing yet, you should start ASAP!

Shift-left testing is a practice of testing earlier in the development lifecycle, allowing teams to catch bugs before they become costly and time-consuming issues.

In this blog, I'll explain what DevOps shift-left testing is, the benefits and challenges of the practice, and how to implement it. I'll also provide tips for effective shift-left testing, best practices for automation, and advice on monitoring and analyzing this type of testing.

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Conceptual Introduction to DevOps Shift-Left Testing

DevOps shift-left testing is the practice of pulling automated testing activities earlier in the software development process. It involves testing at each stage of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) instead of waiting until the end. This shift-left testing approach enables teams to catch and address any issues earlier in the process, saving time and money.

To give some context on the difference between shifting testing to the left and a more traditional testing process, think about a Waterfall project flow. In the waterfall, delivery steps are completed and moved down the assembly line to the next station to get validated or integrated. If there is an issue, it can bring the entire assembly line to a halt.

By moving your development and qa teams towards earlier testing activities in the development cycle, aka shifting left on a delivery timeline, your quality assurance engineering staff are proactively defining the conditions for success through automation. This turns the tables around where quality issues are discovered and remediated causing fewer impacting blockages in your pipelines.

By moving testing activities to the left, teams can find and fix bugs and other issues before they become costly and time-consuming problems. This is crucial for any organization that wants to succeed in the ever-changing world of technology. With DevOps shift-left testing, organizations can reduce the time and cost associated with testing, speed up the development process, and improve the overall quality of their products.

▶ Key Insight

When bootstrapping a project from the very early stages, shifting testing so that it is earlier in the development process may feel like a daunting task since you are looking to ship an MVP as quickly as possible.

Introducing automated testing into a project is always a challenge, and it is a choice around when it happens. There is no stead fast rule about when you should shift left, but I would advocate that you are constantly looking for opportunities to pull testing earlier into your processes and seize the opportunity when the time is right.

What is Shift-Left Testing?

Shift-left testing is the practice of testing earlier in the software development process and shifting activities to the left on a product delivery timeline. It involves testing at each stage of the SDLC, rather than waiting until the end. This shift-left approach enables product and development teams to catch and address any issues much earlier in the process, saving time and money.

Organizations that do proactive planning and discovery on requirements, architecture, and design should also be conceptualizing their quality controls early and often.

Through years of continuous improvement, auto manufacturers have made huge strides to integrate test automation into every stage of their delivery processes. They have done this to reduce their time to market and increase their overall quality.

Shift-left testing helps technology organizations reduce the time and cost associated with testing, speed up the development process, and improve the overall quality of their products. It also allows teams to gain better visibility into their development process, identify potential issues before they become costly problems, and ensure that the quality of their product meets customer expectations.

Shifting Left with testing is also a core tenant of practicing Agile DevOps. Complex systems become easier to manage over the long term when automated testing is integrated early in the development lifecycle.

▶ Example

In a more traditional SDLC, you are going to move through the stages of:

Design > Plan > Build > Validation (Testing) > Deploy > Maintenance

This means that your success criteria are not designed or implemented until very late in the project. This has a few negative impacts to delivery such as increased risk and cost. Any code that is not deployed to a production environment is costing your business money and increasing the risk that the code may not meet market demands.

When working in a shift left testing paradigm, your SDLC looks more like this:

Design > Plan > Testing > Build > Validation > Deploy > Maintenance

Building and writing tests, if implemented correctly, should be a much less costly effort than fully building out a robust feature set. By shifting left, your feedback loops are shortened and you are much more easily able to move back into the plan and design phases when you learn new information from testing.

Also, the flows above are very linear, but the flow here is not actually linear. Checkout this article about the DevOps loop for more information about how the delivery cycle really works.

Why Does DevOps Recommend Shift Left Testing Principles?

The shift left testing approach, a fundamental principle in DevOps, advocates for moving testing activities earlier in the software development lifecycle (SDLC). By shifting testing leftwards, testing and quality assurance processes are integrated into the very beginning of the development process. This strategic move enables early detection and resolution of issues, promoting cost-efficiency and faster development. When defects are identified and addressed at an early stage, the overall cost and effort required for rectification reduce significantly, as issues are less complex and costly to fix during initial development phases.

Shifting left emphasizes a transition from detection-centric practices to prevention-centric practices. It fosters a culture where developers are not solely focused on identifying bugs but are actively engaged in preventing them from manifesting in the first place. This culture of quality-conscious development, supported by early and continuous testing, enhances collaboration and communication among development, testing, and other stakeholders. Automation becomes a foundation in this approach, seamlessly integrating automated testing into the continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline. This not only ensures quicker feedback but also improves overall software quality by providing reliable and stable software products that align with customer expectations.

Ultimately, the shift left testing principle aims to improve customer satisfaction by delivering high-quality software products efficiently and cost-effectively. It's a strategic shift that underlines the significance of early testing, collaborative development, and a proactive quality mindset, all contributing to successful and streamlined software delivery in the DevOps paradigm.

▶ Key Insight

DevOps is about building flow that moves products and businesses progressively forward, never backwards. Part of that flow is to shorten feedback loops and to lean on automated processes as much as possible.

Shift Left Testing Principles help move an organization towards trust in its technology rather than having a persistent cautious optimism about its technology.

We have all been there, when you hit the deploy button... is it going to work in production???

By adopting DevOps and the Shift Left philosophy, you can have a much higher trust that every production release will go out and be bullet proof, and when it isn't, you have a solid foundation of mechanics in place to harden it even farther for the next release.

Benefits of Shift-Left Testing

Shift-left testing offers many benefits for organizations that are looking to accelerate the development process and reduce costs. Here are some of the key benefits of this practice:

  1. Early identification and resolution of issues. By shifting testing to earlier stages in the development process, organizations can identify and fix issues earlier, reducing the risk of costly and time-consuming issues being discovered later in the development process.
  2. It reduces the time and cost associated with testing. By shifting testing activities to the left, teams can catch and address issues much earlier in the process, saving time and money.
  3. It speeds up the development process. With shift-left testing, teams can quickly identify and address any issues, reducing the amount of time it takes to develop a product.
  4. It improves the overall quality and reliability of the product. By testing earlier in the process, teams can ensure that the product meets customer expectations and has fewer bugs.
  5. It allows teams to gain better visibility into their development process. With shift-left testing, teams can identify potential issues before they become costly problems. It also promotes collaboration between different teams and disciplines, helping to ensure that everyone is working towards a common goal.
  6. It increases customer satisfaction. By testing earlier in the process and ensuring that the quality of the product meets customer expectations, organizations can improve customer satisfaction.

Challenges of Shift-Left Testing

Although shift-left testing offers many benefits, it also comes with certain challenges. Here are some of the key challenges of this practice:

  1. It requires a change in mindset: Organizations must shift their mindset from testing at the end of the development process to testing at each stage of the SDLC.
  2. It requires a shift in resource allocation: Organizations must allocate more resources to testing activities earlier in the process.
  3. It requires more collaboration between teams: Organizations must ensure that all teams involved in the development process are collaborating effectively to ensure that shift-left testing is effective.
  4. It requires a shift in tools and technologies: Organizations must ensure that they have the right tools and technologies in place to support shift-left testing.
  5. It requires more communication: Organizations must ensure that all stakeholders are kept informed of any changes or issues related to shift-left testing.
  6. Lack of knowledge and experience: Shifting testing to earlier stages in the development process may require developers to have a deeper understanding of testing concepts and techniques. This may require additional training and resources to ensure that developers are able to effectively conduct testing activities.
  7. Limited testing infrastructure: Shifting testing to earlier stages in the development process may require organizations to invest in additional testing infrastructures, such as test environments, test data, and testing tools. This can be a significant investment and may require careful planning and resource allocation.
  8. Increased complexity: By shifting testing to earlier stages in the development process, organizations may face increased complexity in the testing process, as they may need to test more frequently and cover a wider range of scenarios and conditions. This may require additional resources and planning to ensure that testing is conducted effectively.
  9. Resistance to change: Some organizations may face resistance to shift-left testing, as it requires a change in the traditional testing process and may require additional resources and investments.

Shift-left testing is a testing approach that involves shifting testing activities to earlier stages in the development process, with the goal of improving the quality and reliability of the final product. This can be accomplished by starting testing earlier in the development process, testing more frequently, and automating as much of the testing process as possible. Shift-left testing can provide numerous benefits, including early identification and resolution of issues, improved quality and reliability, increased efficiency, and enhanced collaboration. However, it can also present certain challenges, such as a lack of knowledge and experience, limited testing infrastructure, increased complexity, and resistance to change. To effectively implement shift-left testing, organizations must carefully plan and allocate resources to overcome these challenges and realize the full benefits of this approach.

How to Implement Shift-Left Testing

If you're looking to implement shift-left testing, there are several steps you can take to ensure success. Here are some tips to help you get started:

  1. Identify the goals and benefits of shift-left testing: This can help organizations to understand the motivations for shift-left testing and ensure that it aligns with their overall goals and objectives.
  2. Assess the current testing process: This can help organizations to understand the current state of their testing process and identify areas where shift-left testing can be implemented.
  3. Develop a plan: Develop a plan that outlines how you will implement shift-left testing, including which tools and technologies you will use and how you will measure success.
  4. Train your teams: Ensure that all teams involved in the development process are trained on the principles of shift-left testing and how to use the tools and technologies.
  5. Invest in testing infrastructure and tools: Organizations may need to invest in additional testing infrastructures, such as test environments, test data, and testing tools, to support shift-left testing.
  6. Automate as much of the testing process as possible: Automating tests can help to streamline the testing process and make it more efficient.
  7. Monitor progress: Monitor the progress of shift-left testing and identify any issues that need to be addressed.
  8. Adjust as needed: Adjust the plan as needed to ensure that the process of shift-left testing is effective and efficient.
  9. Review and refine the testing process: It is important to regularly review and refine the testing process to ensure that it is effective and efficient.

To implement shift-left testing, organizations should identify the goals and benefits of shift-left testing, assess the current testing process, identify and prioritize high-value tests, automate as much of the testing process as possible, invest in testing infrastructure and tools, train and educate developers, and review and refine the testing process. By following these steps, organizations can effectively implement shift-left testing and improve the quality and reliability of their products.

Best Practices for Shift-Left Testing

When it comes to shift-left testing, there are several best practices that organizations should follow to ensure success. Here are some of the key best practices:

  1. Automate whenever possible. Automation can help reduce the time and cost associated with shift-left testing, so it should be used whenever possible.
  2. Set clear goals and timelines. Make sure that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of the goals of shift-left testing and how long it will take to implement.
  3. Focus on quality. Shift-left testing should be used to ensure that the product meets customer expectations and has fewer bugs.
  4. Monitor performance. Monitor the performance of shift-left testing and adjust the plan as needed to ensure that it is effective and efficient.
  5. Communicate with stakeholders. Make sure that all stakeholders are kept informed of any changes or issues related to shift-left testing.

Tips for Effective Shift-Left Testing

If you're looking to make shift-left testing effective, here are some tips to help you:

  1. Prioritize testing activities. Make sure that testing activities are prioritized and that they are aligned with the goals of the organization.
  2. Automate whenever possible. Automation can help reduce the time and cost associated with shift-left testing, so it should be used whenever possible.
  3. Monitor performance. Monitor the performance of shift-left testing and adjust the plan as needed to ensure that it is effective and efficient.
  4. Communicate with stakeholders. Make sure that all stakeholders are kept informed of any changes or issues related to shift-left testing.
  5. Measure success. Ensure that you have a way to measure the success of shift-left testing so that you can make adjustments if needed.

Monitoring and Analyzing Shift-Left Testing

Once you've implemented shift-left testing, it's important to monitor and analyze the results. Here are some tips for monitoring and analyzing shift-left testing:

  1. Track progress. Track the progress of shift-left testing to identify any issues that need to be addressed.
  2. Analyze results. Analyze the results of shift-left testing to determine if it is effective and efficient.
  3. Make adjustments. Make adjustments to the plan as needed to ensure that shift-left testing is effective and efficient.
  4. Measure success. Ensure that you have a way to measure the success of shift-left testing so that you can make adjustments if needed.
  5. Communicate with stakeholders. Make sure that all stakeholders are kept informed of any changes or issues related to shift-left testing.

▶ Key Takeaways

  • Shift left is a critical principle of DevOps.
  • Implementing shift left in DevOps requires various changes across the business.
  • Automated testing, continuous integration and deployment, code reviews, and cross-functional collaboration are essential in shift left implementation.
  • By implementing shift left, businesses can identify and fix issues earlier, reduce costs, improve quality, and increase customer satisfaction.
  • Shift left helps businesses deliver software more quickly and efficiently while improving quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Shift-Left testing?

Shift-left testing is a testing approach that involves shifting testing activities to earlier stages in the development process, with the goal of improving the quality and reliability of the final product.

Why is Shift-Left testing important?

Shift-left testing is important because it allows organizations to identify and fix issues early in the development process, improving the quality and reliability of the final product and reducing the time and effort required to deliver it.

How can Shift-Left testing be implemented?

Shift-left testing can be implemented by identifying the goals and benefits of shift-left testing, assessing the current testing process, identifying and prioritizing high-value tests, automating as much of the testing process as possible, investing in testing infrastructure and tools, training and educating developers, and reviewing and refining the testing process.

What are the challenges of Shift-Left testing?

Some challenges of shift-left testing include a lack of knowledge and experience, limited testing infrastructure, increased complexity, and resistance to change.

What are the benefits of Shift-Left testing?

The benefits of shift-left testing include early identification and resolution of issues, improved quality and reliability, increased efficiency, and enhanced collaboration.

Conclusion

Shift-left testing is a powerful practice that can help organizations accelerate the development process and reduce costs. By shifting testing activities to the left, teams can catch and address any issues much earlier in the process, saving time and money. However, shift-left testing is not without its challenges. Organizations must shift their mindset, allocate more resources to testing activities, and ensure that all teams involved in the development process are collaborating effectively.

If you're looking to make the move to shift-left testing, there are several steps you can take to ensure success. You should align your goals, develop a plan, train your teams, monitor progress, and adjust as needed. You should also prioritize testing activities, automate whenever possible, and measure success. Finally, you should monitor and analyze the results of shift-left testing to determine if it is effective and efficient.

So, if you're looking to accelerate the development process and reduce costs, shift-left testing is the way to go. With shift-left testing, you can reduce the time and cost associated with testing, speed up the development process, and improve the overall quality of your products. So, what are you waiting for? Take the plunge and make the move to shift-left testing today!