Common search engine questions about testing #10: “What will software testing look like in 2021?”

This is the final part of a ten-part blog series in which I’ve answered some of the most common questions asked about software testing, according to search engine autocomplete results (thanks to Answer The Public).

In this last post, I ponder the open question of “What will software testing look like in 2021?” (note: updated the year from 2020 in my original dataset from Answer The Public to 2021).

The reality for most people involved in the software testing business is that testing will look pretty much the same in 2021 as it did in 2020 – and probably as it did for many of the years before that too. Incremental improvements take time in organisations and the scope & impact of such changes will vary wildly between different organisations and even within different parts of the same organisation.

I fully expect 2021 to yield a number of reports about trends in software testing and quality, akin to Capgemini’s annual World Quality Report (which I critiqued again last year). There will probably be a lot of noise around the application of AI and machine learning to testing, especially from tool vendors and the big consultancies.

I feel certain that automation (especially of the “codeless” variety) will continue to be one of the main threads around testing with companies continuing to recruit on the basis of “automated testing” prowess over exploratory testing skills.

I think a small but dedicated community of people genuinely interested in advancing the craft of software testing will continue to publish their ideas and look to inject some reality into the various places that testing gets discussed online.

My daily meditation practice has applications here too. In the same way that the practice helps me to recognise when thoughts are happening without getting caught up in their storyline, I think you should make an effort to observe the inevitable commentary on trends in the testing industry through 2021 without going out of your way to follow them. These trends are likely to change again next year and expending effort trying to keep “on trend” is likely effort better spent elsewhere. Instead, I would recommend focusing on the fundamentals of good software testing, while continuing to demonstrate the value of good testing and advancing the practice as best you can in the context of your organisation.

I would also encourage you to make 2021 the year that you tell your testing stories for the benefit of the wider community – your stories are unique, valuable and a great way for others to learn what’s really going on in our industry. There are many avenues to share your first-person experiences – blog about them, share them as LinkedIn articles, talk about them at meetups or present them at a conference (many of which seem destined to remain as virtual events through 2021, which I see as a positive in terms of widening the opportunity for more diverse stories to be heard).

For some alternative opinions on what 2021 might look like, check out the responses to the recent question “What trends do you think will emerge for testing in 2021?” posed by Ministry of Testing on LinkedIn.

You can find the previous nine parts of this blog series at:

• Why is software testing important?,
• How does software testing impact software quality?
• When should software testing activities start?
• How is software testing done?
• Can you automate software testing?
• Is software testing easy?
• Is software testing a good career?
• Can I learn software testing on my own? and
• Which software testing certification is the best?

I’ve provided the content in this blog series as part of the “not just for profit” approach of my consultancy business, Dr Lee Consulting. If the way I’m writing about testing resonates with you and you’re looking for help with the testing & quality practices in your organisation, please get in touch and we can discuss whether I’m the right fit for you.

I’m grateful to Paul Seaman and Ky who acted as reviewers for every part of this blog series; I couldn’t have completed the series without their help, guidance and encouragement along the way, thank you!

Thanks also to all those who’ve amplified the posts in this series via their blogs, lists and social media posts – it’s been much appreciated. And, last but not least, thanks to Terry Rice for the underlying idea for the content of this series.