Software defect reports

A large part of the time of a Test Manager is spent performing Defect Management. Defect Management is the process of recognizing and recording defects, classifying them, investigating them, taking action to resolve them, and disposing of them when resolved.

Whatever the specific information determined as necessary for defect reports, it is critical that testers enter information that is complete , concise , accurate , objective , relevant and timely. When a software testing defect is detected static testing , or a failure is observed dynamic testing data should be gathered by the person s involved and included in the defect report.

Information from a defect report should suffice for Management of the report; Assessment of project status terms of product quality and test progress and Assessment of process capability.

Core information gathered should be consistent across the software testing life cycle and ideally across all projects in order to allow for meaningful comparison of process defect data within and across all projects. The software test manager knows that when handling software testing defect reports we have the following test objectives:.

Software defects may be reported during: coding, static analysis, reviews, dynamic testing, and use of a software product. Testing defects may be reported for issues in code or working system, documentation, requirements, user stories, development or test documents, and user manuals or installation guides.

Any defects identified should be investigated and should be tracked from discovery and classification to their resolution. This is not just a target, but a software testing goal. This is a brief statement of the problem in a concise and understandable sentence.

Next, you need to add a brief description in the body of the defect report:. Allergy button fails to highlight in red when an allergy is saved on the patient record. Additionally, allergy entry is configured to disallow medication entry of the interacting medication. User is able to enter and save the medication that the patient is allergic to. The description is going to be followed by additional detail, so keep it short and to the point.

Research means making sure the defect is truly a defect. Do your best to ensure you have laid down an accurate foundation. Look for error log statements, if possible. Be sure to add any research performed to the end of your defect report in a note format.

For example:. NOTE: Configuration set to block medication entry when any related allergy exists on the patient record regardless of severity value. User is an MD with full access. Database table displays the correct allergy value on the patient.

No errors generated in the error log. Add or attach a step recorder file or video of the defect wherever possible. If you're using Microsoft products, there's a free Step Recorder application you can use to step through the problem. It will create a screenshot-by-screenshot view of where you clicked and the location of the code. This helps developers figure out the problem more efficiently. Additionally, list any database query results or error log files.

Similar to adding a note, this gives backup support that the defect exists and is not only a UI issue. The five types of supporting documentation to consider using are:. Defect reports are among the most important deliverables to come out of testing. They have a direct impact on the quality of the product, so a tester should take excessive care and some time to create a defect report.

The defect report is the most effective manner of communicating, tracking and explaining defects to the manager and development team. The more logical, organized, and detailed the report, the more likely a developer can reproduce it without assistance or without having to request more information. Defect reports contain details of actions in the software application, which is a vital information for application development management and staff and is used to fix areas of the application that don't work properly.

Therefore, to ensure superior software quality, performance, functionality and effectiveness, it is essential for the testing team to create a detailed and informative defect report. We deliver. Get the best of Professional QA in your inbox. Toggle navigation. Home Contact Us About Us. Either the developers are reintroducing bugs when they attempt to fix them, your code control is poor or there is some other fundamental issue.

Time to get out the microscope. Figure Defect status report. Figure Defect trends over time.