What is Shift Left Testing?

What is Shift Left Testing? Do you need to use that term to improve your Software Testing and Development process? I don't think so.

- why I don't use the term Shift Left
- Explanation of what Shift Left means when people use it
- Explanation of what Shift Left might mean when people hear it
- How to Shift Left incorrectly
- How to improve your test process without using the phrase Shift Left.

Supporting video at https://youtu.be/AaMp5skiwqA

Hire me for consultancy and buy my online books and training at:

- https://compendiumdev.co.uk
- http://eviltester.com
- http://seleniumsimplified.com
- http://javafortesters.com

Transcript

1. What is Shift Left Testing?
   Alan Richardson
   www.eviltester.com
   www.compendiumdev.co.uk
   @eviltester
   http://testerhq.com/post/blogs/eviltester/2018‑06‑11‑on‑shift‑left/
   @EvilTester | www.eviltester.com 1
   

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2. According to Wikipedia
   Shift left testing is an approach to software testing and system
   testing in which testing is performed earlier in the lifecycle (i.e.,
   moved left on the project timeline).
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shift_left_testing
   So why not just say "Test Stuff Early"?
   @EvilTester | www.eviltester.com 2
   

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3. A Danger with "Shift Left" is that we move
   an entire activity earlier.
   Rather than spreading it over the life of the Software
   Development Process.
   @EvilTester | www.eviltester.com 3
   

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4. e.g. Performance Testing Shifted Left
   @EvilTester | www.eviltester.com 4
   

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5. What if ...
   there is value in conducting Performance Testing at multiple times
   in the life of the project/sprint/iteration?
   testing early means we can't test certain things?
   testing early means we have to test again later?
   @EvilTester | www.eviltester.com 5
   

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6. What if we didn't say "Shift Left"?
   And instead:
   we continually look for opportunities to test.
   @EvilTester | www.eviltester.com 6
   

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7. "Shift Left"
   sounds like you're talking like a Consultant rather than a real person
   obscures, rather than clarifies, whatever point you are trying to
   make
   makes me think of 'moving a whole thing' rather than improving the
   System
   @EvilTester | www.eviltester.com 7
   

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8. "Shift Left" concentrates on the Testing
   and seems to assume that we can do that
   without changing the System of
   Development.
   @EvilTester | www.eviltester.com 8
   

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9. Create Test Approaches based on the
   System Of Development.
   Depending on the System of Development we test in
   different ways.
   @EvilTester | www.eviltester.com 9
   

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10. Dont "Shift Left"
    Do Change Your Development Approach to allow
    you to Test and Develop Better.
    @EvilTester | www.eviltester.com 10
    

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11. Craft a System of Development (which
    includes Testing) to meet the needs of the
    System we are building, to respond to
    Risks that we identify and the issues that
    we find.
    Systems grow and evolve. We need to be good
    enough to identify improvements we can make and
    take advantage of opportunities to Test.
    @EvilTester | www.eviltester.com 11
    

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12. http://testerhq.com/post/blogs/eviltester/2018‑06‑11‑on‑shift‑left/
    @EvilTester | www.eviltester.com 12
    

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13. EvilTester.com
    www.eviltester.com
    @eviltester
    www.youtube.com/user/EviltesterVideos
    @EvilTester | www.eviltester.com 13
    

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14. Learn About Alan Richardson
    www.compendiumdev.co.uk
    uk.linkedin.com/in/eviltester
    @EvilTester | www.eviltester.com 14
    

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15. Follow
    Linkedin ‑ @eviltester
    Twitter ‑ @eviltester
    Instagram ‑ @eviltester
    Facebook ‑ @eviltester
    Youtube ‑ EvilTesterVideos
    Pinterest ‑ @eviltester
    Github ‑ @eviltester
    Slideshare ‑ @eviltester
    @EvilTester | www.eviltester.com 15
    

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16. BIO
    Alan is a test consultant who enjoys testing at a technical level using
    techniques from psychotherapy and computer science. In his spare
    time Alan is currently programming a multi‑user text adventure game
    and some buggy JavaScript games in the style of the Cascade Cassette
    50. Alan is the author of the books "Dear Evil Tester", "Java For
    Testers" and "Automating and Testing a REST API". Alan's main
    website is compendiumdev.co.uk and he blogs at blog.eviltester.com
    @EvilTester | www.eviltester.com 16
    

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