What are the levels of quality assurance in software engineering?

Levels of quality assurance

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When quality and assurance testing is being carried out, several levels must be crossed to ensure that software is ready to be used.

Here are some levels needed to achieve this:

Level 1 − Code walk-through

At this level, the software code is examined to make sure it meets standards. Code review is made at this level. This is to make sure that the right principles and coding styles are adopted. In general, the emphasis is placed on the examination of the documentation and level of in-code comments.

Level 2 − Compilation and linking

At this level, software compilation and linking are checked. This is to ensure that the software compiles to native code and that it should be able to work on all official platforms, operating systems, etc., through linking.

Level 3 − Routine running

At this level, the software is tested on certain conditions to see how it runs. The condition could be an increased number of event sizes.

Level 4 − Performance test

At this final level, the performance of the software to checked against the previously specified performance level.

Modern levels of testing: CMMI and TMMI

The aforementioned levels mainly applied to software. But with modern times comes modern ways. Let us look at CMMIThe Capability Maturity Model Integration and TMMITesting Maturity Model Integration.

The capability maturity model integration

While CMMI began only for use in software, today, you can apply CMMI to hardware, software, and service development across all industries. The model enables organizations to measure, build, and improve capabilities— to improve overall performance.

CMMI levels

• Level 1: Initial: – This is characterized by chaos, panic, and determined efforts required by individuals to complete projects.

• Level 2: Repeatable: – The processes involved here are software project tracking, requirement gathering and management, realistic planning, and configuration management. Here the processes are in place; successful practices can be repeated.

• Level 3: Defined: – The Standard Software Development and Maintenance Processes are hereby integrated into the organization. A Software Engineering Process Group is already set up to monitor software processes, and training programs are deployed to ensure understanding and compliance.

• Level 4: Managed: – In this level, metrics are employed to ensure that productivity, processes, and products are tracked. Also, here project performance is predictable and quality is consistently high.

• Level 5: Optimizing: – This level is focused on continuous process improvement. The impact and effect of new processes and technologies can be predicted and effectively used when required.

TMMI level

TMMI or Test Maturity Model Integration describes the testing process and is related to monitoring the quality of the software testing model.

It is a combination of a set of five levels that define testing capability and an assessment model.