We live in an era where news about how such or another human profession has disappeared, giving way to a set of scripts and self-learning programs, is heard daily. On this background, the statement that the human factor still plays an essential role in the process of testing programs may seem rather strange to argue.

However, this is indeed the case. In such a high-tech area, where artificial intelligence-based software systems have been ruling for a long time, manual software testing services are still taking place, and even moreover — they stay in high demand.

Artificial Intelligence Needs Teachers Too

Do you know that the word “pedagogue” in Greek means “a slave who takes children to school,” and the profession of teachers, that is, those who put knowledge into the heads of future patricians and Caesars, was one of the most despised and low-paid? And yet, without teachers, neither Greek democracy nor the greatness of the Roman Empire would have been possible.

The situation is roughly the same with the role of manual testing companies (excluding the low payments, of course!) in the rapidly developing segment of the IT market, occupied by Quality Assurance and pre-release Quality Control of new applications.

It turns out that most of the experts in this area spend almost 30% of their time on training and debugging APIs. These very interfaces are responsible for the interaction of different applications.

However, this does not exhaust the human role.

We do not know; perhaps, artificial intelligence involved in complex automatic testing systems (including predictive ones working with Big Data) feels in its machine way something like contempt towards those who write scripts. However, practice confirms: while programs are written for people, the role of a live tester remains indispensable.

Types of manual testing

Let’s not forget: no matter how perfect the script is for a comprehensive application check, it will conscientiously check just what is ordered to it, not deviating one step either to the right or left from the set goal.

So far, only a human has the ability to put himself in the place of a future user and, having seen the application through his eyes, try to use the program, perhaps illogical — still, precisely the way another human can do it.

Needless to say, such a specific test as the so-called “foolproof” cannot be assigned to any logical AI by definition. That is why usability testing costs necessarily consist of both machine and manual testing. These two areas are still inseparable from each other.

So, what types of manual testing are a mandatory part of Quality Assurance and Quality Control software, and why?

• Black box testing. In this type of testing, the expert does not see the code but interacts with the application as an ordinary, non-advanced user. Thus, first of all, the UX interface and overall usability are checked.
• White box testing. In this case, in complete contrast to the previous one, the verification is carried out precisely at the code level to identify apparent errors and potential bottlenecks.
• Unit testing — checking individual elements of the program and their interaction with each other. There is a place for both purely manual testing and the use of automated solutions at this stage. At this stage, it is also checked whether the fixes made during testing in individual modules did not lead to changes in the functionality of other application elements.
• Preparing and executing test cases. This is precisely the thinking through of scenarios of the possible use of the program from a purely human point of view to create a script for further machine verification.
• Study of technical documentation. This is a check for clarity and inclusion in user instructions of all points necessary for the correct use of the program.
• Pre-release user testing. This stage is carried out just before the release of the program to the market. Its main goal is to understand how convenient and understandable it is for the user after all the changes made during testing. That and many more is described in more detail in the testing applications guide.

And who are these experts?

There are many rather ridiculous myths among non-specialists, only superficially, by hearsay, familiar with testing software’s complex and multi-level process. One of them says that since manual (and any other) testing is carried out in the interests of an ordinary user, a person who does not have deep special knowledge can check the program.

Another misconception arising from the first one boils down to the fact that the developer himself can carry out a pre-release check since everything is so simple.

There is nothing more harmful and more dangerous than such fantasies.

This position has forever closed access to the highly competitive IT market for many promising startups with overly self-confident management.

To avoid such a fate, you just need to carefully study the experience of experts specializing in this area, for example, the internationally recognized TestFort company. Only when you can tell yourself that all the subtleties of software outsourcing are explained and profoundly understood is it possible to draw the correct conclusions regarding the testing scheme that is right for you.

In any case, experienced experts will always be able to help you with the right choice.