The Future of DevOps: 4 Trends Testers Need to Know
Between AI/ML, 5G, foldable phones, and the anticipated release of Android Q and iOS 13, there’s plenty of change on the horizon in DevOps — and some is already under way.
What does the future hold? And what does a QA tester need to know? Take a look into the crystal ball of DevOps trends to see what’s around the corner and how it affects testers like yourself.
What Can We Expect for the Future of DevOps?
DevOps has certainly come a long way.
It was not too long ago that waterfall methodology was the way of the world. Then teams learned to test sooner and shift left. They become Agile. DevOps accelerated. It scaled to fit the needs of bigger and bigger teams.
And now DevOps is becoming smarter, thanks to AI and machine learning. Teams today chase full-blown continuous testing for faster releases and accelerated DevOps.
DevOps we know and love today will look entirely different in the coming years. We don’t know exactly what the future of DevOps holds. But we can get an idea from emerging DevOps trends.
4 DevOps Trends Testers Should Know
Keep reading to learn about DevOps trends that testers like you should be ready for.
1. Renewed Focus on Security
A new element is infiltrating DevOps: security. In the future, it will be baked into DevOps so much so that the three core elements of devops — development, operations, and application delivery — will expand to add one more: security.
You may be familiar with the term, DevSecOps. This philosophy is about infusing security throughout the software development lifecycle.
Security will no longer serve as an afterthought. Instead, security will be built into the entire DevOps process moving forward, which reduces vulnerabilities. Together with business and IT, security will finally have a seat at the DevOps table.
What this means for testers is an increase in security testing, which leads to our next point.
2. Emphasis on Non-Functional Testing
5G. AI and ML. AR and VR. IoT. Accessibility and security requirements.
With so many advancements and requirements on the horizon, testing will need to step up to meet the demands of innovation.
Reliability, UX, and performance testing will grow in importance. And with increased accessibility and security requirements, testers will need to ensure these needs are met through accessibility testing and security testing.
Take for example the accessibility requirements going into effect in 2019. With websites needing to comply with these strict requirements, testers will be at the forefront supporting the effort and ensuring their software is accessible.
And with the growing emphasis on enhanced security, more testing will need to be done to ensure that mobile and web apps are secure. With cyberattacks haunting the headlines, no organization wants to have their reputation ruined over a breach. Hence, security testing is a DevOps trend that will grow in the coming years.
3. Microservices
Microservices are systems that are highly concentrated to focus on single functions. And because they are so lightweight, they offer the speed and agility that hulking DevOps systems lack.
Microservices are independent. When something goes wrong, they don’t break other elements. Because of this feature, microservices are desirable for teams adding new features. Because defects can be isolated and fixed before they affect anything else, microservices can help speed up delivery.
Due to their singular functions, the rise of microservices will go hand in hand with unit testing. Following unit testing, teams can also expect to conduct more integration testing to ensure these functions comply with the rest of an application.
4. Evolution of the Tester Role
It’s a brave new world for software testers and QA professionals. Two specific roles will experience the most change in the coming years:
- Business testers, who focus on user stories from a manual standpoint.
- Software developers, who focus on unit testing and build acceptance testing.
The DevOps trend that will affect these roles is the push towards automation. Why? Test automation significantly reduces time-consuming manual tasks. But automation often requires advanced skill sets — namely, coding.
Does this mean that ALL testers should learn to code? Not necessarily. Testers who code and automate test scripts are seen as a resource to the team, but that isn’t the only way to add value as a tester.
Take for example codeless testing tools.
Codeless testing tools meet both the business needs and testers’ needs, bridging the skill gap. They allow testers to write test scripts without knowing code. But you don’t have to lack coding skills to use these tools. Even developers can benefit from codeless testing, as it frees up time writing tests to focus on other pressing tasks.
Download your copy of The Complete Guide to Codeless Testing
Remember: automation is here to stay, and it’s changing the way that software is tested.
Bottom Line
As DevOps continues to evolve, teams will face one more overarching trend: the scaling of continuous testing. This will present both opportunities and challenges. With more test results data, bigger source and code bases, and more functionalities to address, the future of testing relies on its ability to scale up.
Through it all, the future of DevOps is bright. Change is exciting. And there’s no shortage of it on the horizon for mobile and web app testing.
No matter what DevOps trends come your way, be ready for whatever the future holds. Prepare yourself now — check out our eBook, The QA Tester's Guide to Thriving in an Automated Testing World.
