Bug reports play a crucial role in the software development process, providing developers with essential information to identify and fix issues. Also Now QA Engineers can do remote jobs. However, QA engineers often make mistakes that can hinder the effectiveness of bug reports. In this guide, we will explore the five main mistakes to avoid when writing bug reports, ensuring that your reports are accurate, clear, and valuable for the development team.
Submitting a Report Before You Finish Testing
One of the most common mistakes made by QA engineers is submitting a bug report prematurely, before completing thorough testing. Rushing to submit a report without comprehensive testing can lead to inaccurate or incomplete information, making it challenging for developers to reproduce and resolve the issue effectively.
To avoid this mistake, take the time to conduct thorough testing, ensuring that you have explored all functionalities of the software and tested various scenarios. Include all relevant information in your report, and ensure that what you are experiencing is indeed a bug and not a result of your computer’s setup or other external factors. Following the developer’s instructions and guidelines for testing will help you provide accurate and valuable information.
Using Jargon That Not Everyone Understands
Using company-specific jargon or technical terms that may not be familiar to all team members is another common mistake in bug reports. This can create confusion and frustration for developers who may have difficulty understanding the issue or its context.
To enhance clarity and effective communication, use clear and concise language that can be easily understood by everyone, including new developers. Aim to make your bug reports so clear that even someone unfamiliar with the project, like your grandma, could comprehend them. Avoiding technical jargon and providing detailed explanations will prevent miscommunication and foster a collaborative environment among team members.
Poorly written bug reports not only hinder effective bug resolution but can also impact your reputation within the company. Start on the right foot by consistently delivering clear and well-structured bug reports.
Skipping Essential Parts of the Bug Report
A comprehensive bug report should contain essential elements to provide developers with all the necessary information to understand and address the issue effectively. Skipping any of these key parts can result in incomplete bug reports that may be returned for additional information.
The seven main parts of a bug report are:
Summary: A concise description of the issue.
Background (system setup): Details about the environment in which the bug occurred.
Reproducibility steps: Step-by-step instructions to reproduce the bug.
Actual results: The actual behavior or outcome observed during testing.
Expected results: The expected behavior or outcome based on the software’s intended functionality.
Frequency of occurrence: How often the bug occurs (e.g., always, occasionally, rarely).
Severity: The impact of the bug on the software’s functionality or user experience (e.g., critical, major, minor).
Include all these parts in your bug reports, and provide any additional materials, such as screenshots, log traces, or videos, to assist developers in understanding and resolving the issue efficiently.
Not Knowing What You Are Trying to Test
As a QA engineer, having a clear understanding of what you are testing and the objectives of your testing is essential. Testing can encompass various aspects, such as software functionality, usability, performance, or security. Not knowing the specific focus of your testing can lead to errors and invalid results.
For example, if you are testing an application, but you mistakenly perform the tests on a different device than intended, the results may not accurately reflect the software’s performance on the target device. Always be aware of the scope and objectives of your testing to ensure the validity and reliability of your bug reports.
Knowing what you are testing and why is crucial to avoid honest mistakes that could impact your performance review and the development process.
Setting the Wrong Priority and Severity
Inexperienced QA engineers may mistakenly set the priority and severity of a bug too high or too low, leading to potential misunderstandings and disruptions in the development process.
The priority of a bug indicates its urgency and how quickly it needs to be addressed. The severity, on the other hand, indicates the impact of the bug on the software’s functionality or user experience. Setting a bug as a “HIGHEST” priority or marking it as a “blocker” without proper evaluation can create unnecessary noise and frustration.
To avoid this mistake, use objective evaluation techniques, and consult with your lead or manager if you are unsure about the priority or severity of a bug. Understand that not all blockers need immediate resolution; some may have low priority depending on specific circumstances.
A simple way to identify a true blocker is to determine if there is any way to work around the bug and still achieve the desired results. If alternative methods exist, the bug may not be a blocker but rather a critical issue. However, if the bug completely prevents progress and there is no workaround, it can be considered a blocker.
Conclusion:
Writing effective bug reports is essential for smooth collaboration between QA engineers and developers. By avoiding these five common mistakes, QA engineers can contribute significantly to the software development process, providing developers with accurate, clear, and actionable bug reports. Thorough testing, clear communication, and proper evaluation of bugs’ priority and severity will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of bug resolution, resulting in higher-quality software products and a more cohesive team environment.
