Smoke testing is an integral part of the software development lifecycle, particularly when it comes to feature flag management. Although the term might sound ambiguous to the uninitiated, it plays a pivotal role in delivering quality software applications. So, what exactly is a smoke test, and why should it matter to you? Read on to dive deep into the world of smoke testing and understand how it impacts feature flag management.

What Is a Smoke Test?

Smoke testing, sometimes referred to as “build verification testing”, is a preliminary testing process that validates the stability of a software build. It serves as an early warning system for identifying critical bugs or issues that could disrupt the software’s core functionalities. The term “smoke test” originates from the hardware testing process where a device passes the test if it doesn’t catch fire or “smoke” on the first switch on.

The primary goal of smoke testing in software development is to detect severe issues early in the testing process. It’s a high-level, non-exhaustive testing technique that focuses on the critical functionalities of an application rather than diving into the details. Think of it as a first checkpoint that a software build needs to pass before it proceeds to more rigorous, detailed testing procedures.

How Smoke Testing Works

Smoke testing is typically conducted when a new software build or version is released. The software testers will validate the most important functionalities of the application – the ones the system cannot function effectively without. For instance, in an eCommerce application, testers might check if a user can successfully add items to the cart, checkout, and make a payment.

If the software build passes the smoke test, it’s deemed stable enough to proceed to the next testing phases like functional testing, integration testing, or regression testing. Conversely, if the build fails the smoke test, it’s sent back to the development team for bug fixing and improvements. Essentially, a successful smoke test can save a lot of time and effort by preventing unstable builds from entering into more detailed testing stages.

The Intersection of Smoke Testing and Feature Flags

Now that we understand smoke testing, let’s explore its relationship with feature flags.

Feature flags, also known as feature toggles, provide developers with the ability to turn certain features of a software application on or off without having to redeploy the entire application. They offer a safety net, allowing new features to be tested in production while minimizing the risk. If something goes wrong, the feature can simply be turned off using the feature flag.

Smoke testing plays a crucial role when working with feature flags. When a new feature is introduced into a system via a feature flag, smoke testing can quickly validate if the addition of this new feature disrupts any of the application’s critical functionalities. In other words, it provides an assurance that the feature flagged version of the application is ready for further testing and eventually for release.

By integrating smoke tests and feature flags, you can enhance software quality, decrease risks, and accelerate the development cycle. Smoke testing helps you ensure that new features, when turned on, will not break your application, while feature flags allow you to mitigate the potential impact if they do.

A Practical Example With Split

Let’s bring this into a real-world context with Split.io.

Split.io, an enterprise-leading feature management and experimentation platform, provides robust feature flagging, enabling you to deploy features with confidence. However, ensuring the stability and reliability of your application is still paramount, which is where smoke testing comes into play.

When you implement a new feature using a feature flag in Split.io, you can perform a smoke test to make sure your application’s key functionalities are not disrupted. If the test passes, you can confidently proceed with further testing and eventually expose the feature to your user base. If any critical issue arises, you can easily turn off the feature flag, thereby minimizing the impact on your users and your application.

Conclusion

In conclusion, smoke testing is an essential part of the software development lifecycle, serving as the first line of defense against critical bugs and issues. When combined with feature flags, it provides an efficient, effective, and safe way to introduce and manage new features in a software application.

By understanding and correctly implementing smoke testing, you can save time, reduce risk, and improve the quality of your software applications. Integrating this with a powerful feature flag management system like Split will take your feature delivery and management process to the next level.

So, the next time you’re adding a new feature using a feature flag, don’t forget to perform a smoke test. It could be the difference between a successful feature launch and one that goes up in smoke 😉

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