The Art of Static Testing | What Is Static Testing ?

Introduction About Static Testing:

Static testing is an important software testing form and divergent from dynamic testing in that it requires code. The approach is in which the software product and related documentation are scrutinized and validated. This article explores static testing techniques, related tools, and best practices for ensuring proper implementation.

Static testing is a form of testing which does not necessitate that the code is executed in order to be performed.

It primarily includes two main activities:

Static Analysis:

Therefore, other tool SonarQube is applied by developers to check the quality, security, syntax errors, check if the code adheres to best practices and check for optimization without having to run the code.
Through conformance models, tools track and report problems in the code to be fixed by developers.

Reviews:

Different types of review including walkthrough, inspection, code review, technical review, and pair programming are carried out in order to discover the presence of defects in documents, designs and code.
These reviews require the team to assess documents such as requirements documents, test plans, designs, and the code itself without their actually running the code.

Why choose static testing?

Static testing should be part of several reasons:

Early Defect Detection: Defects are pinpointed and tackled early in development; this ensures their diminishing impact in later stages.
Increased Productivity: These optimize development efficiency by reducing problems before they rise, allowing a smooth progress of the project.
Cost and time savings: Static testing saves testing time and money by identifying issues early in the development process.
Reduced Bugs: Eliminating bugs early significantly reduces the probability of having defects later in development.

Areas Covered by Static Testing:

Static testing applies to different areas such as:

Business Qualifications Document
Functional or Programmatic Requirements
Unit test cases

The examples:

Analyze the data.
DB Fields Dictionary Spreadsheet.
Experiment with different planning strategies.
Traceability Theory Sheet.
Performance test scripts / Automation.

Static Testing Methods:

Static testing methods can be divided into two categories: research design and static analysis.

Random Survey: Based on the process for reviewing the software design and documentation, eliminating defects in software design and documentation. It includes a walkthrough, whereby an expert reviews resource feasibility and has the potential of identifying potential issues; peer review, whereby team members review documents for any discrepancies; and review of software requirements specifications (SRS) to ensure accuracy and completeness.
Static Analysis: Static analysis may be applied to examine rules to ensure compliance with standards and best practices without applying them. The most frequently encountered issues in static analysis include inappropriate use of variables, dead code, and infinite loops, among others. Analysis includes data flow and control flow analysis for efficiency.

Techniques of Static Testing:

Here are some key techniques used in static testing:

Code Reviews: This involves nature code scrutiny by fellow developers or experts in a process involving the effort to find different deficiencies in the code such as coding errors, flawed logic, or deviation from set code standards. In general, a code review can be categorized as either a ‘checklist’ style review, where a set list of guidelines and procedures have been established, or an ‘open’ style review, where more free flowing discussion actively takes place However, both varieties stay targeted towards the improvement of the code.
Static Analysis Tools: Analysis is done on code or documentation to detect pre error occurrences that include syntax errors, coding standard, memory leak occurrences or even security vulnerabilities. These tools offer a way to share with developers comments on possible issues, which would not be evident during manual code reviews.
Walkthroughs: A walkthrough is a kind of review process where the developers or the team members go through the software requirement, design or the code with the aim of validating or verifying a certain component in order to detect faults and enhance the quality of the system. It is an analytical approach to the artifact, and authors frequently describe the process to the reader, sometimes in stages.
Inspections: Consequently, like walkthroughs, inspections are quite specific, they refer to a formal type of activity during which a team goes through the material in a systematic manner. It can be, however, noted that while walkthroughs are less formalized than tests, inspections are more disciplined in practice and are majorly targeted at defect identification as opposed to comprehension. A certain number of observations are made whereby the participants are often expected to act in a specific manner or have a set of instructions to follow.
Peer Reviews: This can be a wide categorization of the reviews and includes the informal feedback, the code review and the inspections where different members of the team review works of other members, and other related work. Peer reviews encourage teamwork and the exchange of ideas and concepts while evidently searching for faults in the software.
Pair Programming: Even though it does not fall under the category of static testing, pair programming is a process that takes place in a single computer: two people, though using a single workstation. This real–time cooperation is usually achieved through real time reviews and may result in immediate detection and rectification of the defects as the code is being developed.
Document Reviews: Static testing can also be called as proactive testing because in addition to the code it can involve reviewing design documentation, requirements specifications, test plans, project documentation etc. This guarantees that all the areas of software development are checked for accuracy, compliance to the right standard, and completeness all through.

Advantages of Static Testing Technique:

Improved Quality: This means that the quality of the code and other artifacts does match up to the quality standard set by the best practices in software engineering.
Early detection of defects: Static checking out permits defects to be identified early in the development technique, before the code is complete. This makes it less complicated to reduce the price of repairing defects, as they can be less steeply-priced to deal with when they may be determined early. Defects must be detected at this stage as this will also be before code execution as it may help in solving them before evaluation.
Improved software program fine: By taking pictures defects early, static testing guarantees that software artifacts that consist of code, necessities, and layout files meet superb necessities and specifications. This consequences in a better commonplace top class quality software program application.
Cost-effectiveness: Finding and fixing defects during the early degrees of improvement is extra cost-powerful than fixing them later via inspection or after deployment. Static checking out makes it feasible to reduce transformation and protection prices. This is costlier and slower than if the defects were corrected during or after the static testing process is complete.
Improved developer collaboration: Techniques like code critiques, walkthroughs, and opinions aid collaboration among team participants. Developers study from each other's expertise and experience, main to more superior competencies and adherence to coding requirements.
Knowledge sharing: Static logout allows knowledge sharing inside the crew. It permits builders to understand the exceptional components of the code base, enterprise necessities, and trendy format, improving organization performance and performance.
Standards Compliance: Static checking guarantees that software artifacts meet coding standards, remarkable practices, and regulatory imperatives. This is crucial in industries wherein compliance and compliance are mandatory.
Improved maintainability: Software that undergoes thorough static manage is typically less complicated to keep and enhance. Well-reviewed code and documentation are greater modular, readable, and lots much less errors-inclined, making fate changes less complicated.
Risk Reduction: Early identification of defects reduces the chance of number one troubles acting later in the software development lifestyles cycle. This proactive method facilitates the delivery of greater dependable and strong software program merchandise.
Support for agile practices: Static checkout strategies are like minded with agile methodologies, in which frequent feedback and continuous improvement are key. They adapt properly to iterative development cycles by ensuring that each increment meets high requirements.
Increased consumer trust: Providing a software program program with fewer defects and a better exciting upload-on pleases and trusts. Users are more likely to adopt and design products that always work efficiently and meet their expectations.

Tools for Static Analysis:

Static analysis can be facilitated by many tools, in programming languages such as:

Checkstyle (for Java)
ESLint (for JavaScript)
SourceMeter (for languages such as C, C++, Java, Python)

Tips for Winning in Static Testing:

Adhere to these best practices to succeed effectively in static testing:

Provide thorough training on the process with examples.
Focus efforts on priorities to be more effective.
Maintain proper procedures to maintain work standards and consistency.
Carefully plan and monitor performance to avoid delays.
Actively address any obstacles to test execution.

Here's the reference video for you to watch and better understand the topic:

Conclusion:

In conclusion, static testing is a very important tool in software testing, which significantly determines the quality of the product, the number of defects, and the development process, if done right and as per best practices.

Static testing is considered an important part of software quality assurance, as it includes static analysis and reviews to find defects before these are incorporated into the software and become more difficult to fix. Instead of focusing on detecting the problems, it aims at preventing their occurrence in the first place. It is important for software developers, testers and anyone related to the process to know about static testing in order to ensure that high-quality software is being produced with minimum stress and least amount of time is consumed in the process.

These are the points that include explanation and the benefits of static testing and can be summed up as the following.