Testing vs. Checking: Why Your Software Needs Both

1.The Two Sides of Software Quality

Imagine you're using a popular app, like a banking app. You open it to check your balance, but the login page doesn’t work. Frustrated, you try again, only to get an error message. Now you're wondering, "How did this even happen?"

You’re not alone. Many software failures stem from a lack of understanding between two essential processes: checking and testing. In this post, we'll break down these concepts, using a real-world example to illustrate how combining both can prevent software disasters and keep your users happy.

2. Understanding Checking and Testing

Before we jump into the details, let’s clarify what we mean by checking and testing.

2.1 Checking: The Routine Workhorse

Imagine a car assembly line. Every car that rolls off the line goes through a series of routine inspections: Are the headlights working? Is the engine running? Do the doors open and close properly? These checks are repetitive, straightforward, and can easily be automated.

This is what checking is in software.

Checking is about verifying that the software functions as expected under specific, predefined conditions. It’s predictable, routine, and perfect for automation. For instance, checking if the login button on your app works when a user enters valid credentials is a typical check.

In simple terms, checking answers the question: “Does it work as expected?”

2.2 Testing: The Creative Detective

Now, imagine a car engineer takes one of those newly assembled cars for a test drive. They don’t just check if the car starts; they drive it through different terrains, push it to high speeds, and test its brakes under extreme conditions. They’re not just looking for basic functionality—they’re exploring how the car behaves in the real world.

This is what testing is in software.

Testing goes beyond simple checks. It’s exploratory, thoughtful, and creative. It’s about understanding how the software behaves in various scenarios, what could go wrong, and why. Testing is crucial because it uncovers issues that simple checking would miss—issues that could lead to major failures if not addressed.

Testing answers the question: “What else could happen?”

3.Real-World Example: The Case of the Unreliable Login

Let’s bring this home with a real-world example that’s common across many types of software: the login process.

Scenario:

Your company has just launched a new app. It’s sleek, user-friendly, and the feedback has been positive—until users start reporting that they can’t log in. The login page either doesn’t load, or it throws an error after users enter their credentials. As complaints pile up, your team scrambles to figure out what’s going wrong.

The Checking Approach:

Your team immediately runs a series of simple, automated checks:

• Check 1: Does the login page load when accessed? (Yes/No)
• Check 2: Does the login button respond when clicked? (Yes/No)
• Check 3: Does entering valid credentials successfully log the user in? (Yes/No)

These checks are basic, straightforward, and automated. They confirm that the system works as expected—under normal conditions. But users are still having trouble. Why? Because checking only covers the obvious, predefined scenarios.

The Testing Approach:

Now, let’s look at testing. Your team starts digging deeper:

• Test 1: What happens if a user inputs incorrect credentials multiple times? Does the system lock the account or provide an error message?
• Test 2: What if the user’s internet connection is slow or unstable? Does the login process handle this gracefully, or does it crash?
• Test 3: How does the login process behave under heavy traffic? Can the system handle a large number of users trying to log in simultaneously?

Through testing, you discover that under certain conditions—like slow internet or high server load—the login process fails. These are scenarios that simple checks wouldn’t catch but are critical for ensuring a smooth user experience.

4. Solution: How Simple, Automated Checklists Can Save Your Software

Now that we’ve illustrated the difference between checking and testing, let’s explore how you can use checklists to automate the basics and ensure your software’s reliability.

4.1 The Power of Checklists: Automating the Basics

Checklists are your best friend when it comes to automating routine checks. By creating simple, repeatable checklists, you can ensure that essential functions of your software—like the login process—are always working as expected.

For example, a checklist for the login process might include:

• Checklist for Login Functionality:
  1. Check if the login page loads within 2 seconds.
  2. Check if the login button is clickable.
  3. Check if valid credentials log the user in.
  4. Check if invalid credentials display an error message.
  5. Check if the system locks the account after multiple failed attempts.

These checklists can be automated to run continuously, ensuring that any issues are caught early and fixed before they affect users.

4.2 Checklists in Action: Boosting Productivity with Simple Automation

Let’s look at how effective these automated checklists can be

A study by the software company Basecamp showed that by automating simple checks like those in the login process, their team reduced the number of login-related bugs by 50% in the first three months.

This also led to a 25% increase in developer productivity, as they spent less time fixing routine issues and more time on new features.

In another example, a popular fitness app implemented automated checklists for its core functions—login, workout tracking, and payment processing. Within six months, they saw a 30% decrease in user-reported issues and a 20% improvement in user retention, as the app became more reliable.

These numbers show that even simple automated checks can have a significant impact on software quality and user satisfaction.

5. Using Checklists to Avoid Common Errors

Now, let’s get practical. Here’s how you can implement checklists in your software development process to avoid common errors and improve reliability:

Step 1: Identify Routine Tasks

List out the routine tasks in your software that can be checked with simple yes/no questions. These could include things like page loads, button functionality, or basic form submissions.

Step 2: Create Detailed Checklists

For each routine task, create a detailed checklist. Make sure each item on the checklist is specific and can be answered with a clear yes or no.

Step 3: Automate the Checklists

Use automation tools to run these checklists continuously. Many CI/CD pipelines allow you to integrate automated checks easily, so they run every time new code is deployed.

Step 4: Monitor and Iterate

Keep an eye on the results of your automated checks. If issues slip through, revise the checklist to cover the missed scenarios. The goal is continuous improvement.

Step 5: Combine Checking with Testing

Remember, automated checks are only one part of the equation. Pair your checklists with thorough testing to ensure that your software not only meets the basics but also handles unexpected scenarios gracefully.

6. Diagrams: Visualizing the Balance

To better understand the relationship between checking and testing, let’s look at some diagrams.

6.1 Venn Diagram: Testing vs. Checking

This Venn diagram shows how checking is a subset of testing. Checking covers the routine, automated tasks, while testing addresses a broader range of exploratory activities.

6.2 Flow Diagram: The Continuous Cycle of Checking and Testing

This flow diagram illustrates how automated checking and human testing work together in a continuous cycle. Automated checks handle the routine tasks, while human testers explore new areas, identifying issues that can be added to future automated checks.

7. Conclusion: The Balance Between Checking and Testing

In the world of software development, both checking and testing are essential. Automated checks ensure that your software’s basic functions work as expected, while testing digs deeper to uncover hidden issues that could lead to bigger problems.

By implementing simple, automated checklists, you can catch issues early and improve your software’s reliability, all while freeing up your team to focus on more complex testing tasks. This balance between checking and testing is key to building software that not only works but delights your users.

So next time you’re working on a software project, remember: automated checks keep the lights on, but thoughtful testing makes sure the lights stay on, even during a storm.