When you think of jobs in the world of technology, the first one that comes to mind is probably software developer. And it's true: software developers are important players in innovation and technology advancement. But they are not the only vital professionals in the technology industry. Furthermore, essential for (…)
When you think of jobs in the world of technology, the first one that comes to mind is probably software developer. And it's true: software developers are important players in innovation and technology advancement. But they are not the only vital professionals in the technology industry. Additionally, essential to the software development life cycle (SDLC) are software quality assurance (QA) testers and associated roles.
Both careers are extremely lucrative – together, software developers and software quality assurance analysts earn an average of $107,510 annually (50% median), according to May 2019 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) . And although people with similar backgrounds (particularly those who are inclined toward mathematics, engineering, and computer science) flock to both professions, the jobs involve different duties, responsibilities, and skill sets.
So what are the roles of QA testers and software developers in the SDLC? And why are both so essential? Let's take a look at their distinctions and importance.
Software Developer and QA Tester Roles
| Criterion | Quality Control Test | Software development |
|---|---|---|
| Main role | Ensures software functions correctly, is easy to use, and meets requirements | Creates software applications using multiple programming languages and development tools |
| Key tasks | Creation of test cases, bug reports, test execution, quality assurance | Code writing, design, feature implementation, debugging |
| Required skills | Testing methodologies, analytical skills, detail-oriented, knowledge of testing tools | Programming languages, problem solving, knowledge of development tools and methodologies |
| Interaction with software | Interaction begins after the development phase, to verify that the software is working as expected | Iteration starts in the concept phase, building the software from scratch |
| Measurement of results | Success measured by software stability, absence of bugs and user experience | Success measured by timely delivery, functionality, performance and adherence to design |
| Tools | Use tools like Selenium, Jira, TestRail, qTest etc. | Use tools such as IDEs (Visual Studio, IntelliJ, etc.), version control systems (Git, SVN, etc.) |
| Problems solution | Resolve issues related to software functionality, compatibility, user experience, and performance | Solve problems related to software logic, functionality, and integration |
| Dependency | Relies on software development to produce code for testing | Does not rely on QA testing, but quality of development can affect quantity of testing |
| Team interaction | Often part of a separate QA team, but works closely with software developers | Can work independently or as part of a development team |
| Documentation | Mainly responsible for test plans, test cases, bug reports | Mainly responsible for design documents, technical specifications, source code comments |
| Involvement in the software lifecycle | Involved in the testing, verification and maintenance stages of the software life cycle | Involved in the planning, design, implementation and maintenance stages of the software lifecycle |
What separates developers from testers? Here is a brief analysis of each of these important positions.
Software developer
Using many different tools and skills, software developers build products, such as mobile and web applications, according to requirements set by the client, employer, or other interested parties. This work requires extensive knowledge and experience in programming languages and associated programming tools, such as frameworks and environments.
While developing the product, they will perform some basic testing, including unit testing, to ensure that the software is working properly. Although the developer is expected to detect and eliminate bugs that are clearly interfering with the product's core functionality, their goal is not to rigorously test it and eliminate other, more subtle defects.
Software development doesn't just include writing code. Depending on the developer's specific role, they may be responsible for designing and prototyping software, as well as researching requirements and determining whether and how they can be met.
Software QA Tester
QA testers are not involved in the actual creation of the software, but they are still vital to its lifecycle. These technology professionals test software, as the name implies, to ensure that the product meets specified requirements. There are many different types of tests they can perform, evaluating functionality, performance, usability, volume, load and stress the product can handle, security, and more.
The quality control process generally involves a combination of automated and manual testing. Even in the case of automation, a human QA expert must create the test script to be automated. Ultimately, the goal of this process is to ensure the product is as defect-free as possible and ready for end users.
It's important to note that it's not possible to declare a product bug-free, nor is that the goal of QA testing. Instead, QA specialists will catch as many bugs as possible and report them to developers for resolution. When defects are discovered after the product is released, developers will resolve them in the next release.
The development team and QA team must work together to create a high-quality product and ensure it is market-ready. Collaboration is essential for all roles in the SDLC and perhaps none more so than between these two positions.
And although most testing sometimes occurs at or near the end of the development phase, software can also benefit from earlier testing. This way, testers can detect important defects that interfere with the functionality and quality of the product early on, before developers have invested much time and effort into building it.
Potential career paths
Software development and testing are not isolated functions. Under each umbrella term, there are several potential career paths you can pursue. Here are some of the top jobs that developers and testers can have. Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive.
Software development
- Front-end developer
- Backend developer
- Full-stack developer
- Mobile engineer
- Web developer
- Application developer
- Games developer
- Data scientist
- DevOps Engineer
Quality Control Test
- Quality control analyst
- QA engineer
- Software Test Engineer
- Functional Tester
- Automation engineer
- Manual tester
- QA Manager
- Test Architect
There is a role that straddles both worlds: the software development engineer under test (SDET). SDET creates software for QA testing, including automated tests, test code, frameworks, and other tools. Like the other roles in these lists, it plays a key role in the SDLC.
Skill set
There are many overlapping skills that both software developers and QA testers must have. Still, there are some that are more essential for one role than another. Below are just a few of the many skills each role must exhibit in their jobs. Note that you will see some skills twice because they are mandatory for both groups.
Software developer
- Schedule
- Creativity
- Problems solution
- Communication
- Attention to the details
- Adaptability
- Logic
- Multitasking
- Curiosity
- Concentration
- Team work
Quality Control Tester
- Analytical
- Interpersonal
- Communication
- Attention to the details
- Organizational
- Efficiency
- Good judgment
- Critical thinking
- Agility
- Data analysis
- Team work
Clearly, both software developers and QA testers play a key role in creating quality, usable software, regardless of their specific position or title. But each of them requires unique skills and responsibilities. If you're thinking about getting into technology, think carefully about where your strengths lie.
Also remember that these are just two of the many possibilities in the world of software and technology. From information technology (IT) to technical writing and project management, there are many roles that require different insights and skills – you just need to find the niche that suits you best.
