Defect tracking is a process that has been used for measuring software quality while emphasizing on identifying as many bugs as possible in the early stages in the development cycle. Identifying issues and bugs is important in the development process, yet many agile teams have quit the process of defect tracking, stating the fact that the process creates unnecessary load and prevents the testing and development teams from communicating effectively. Although there is some reality in this fact, yet there are different ways to make the most of the defect tracking tools without overlooking their drawbacks. 

Benefits of Defect Tracking 

When we talk about defect tracking tools, we know that there are plenty of tools available in the market. There are various tools that allow tracking non-technical issues, internal tools for development teams, etc. Teams often use sticky notes, email, spreadsheets, or a logbook to record customer issues, they will need defect tracking. All they need to do is find the right tools and processes for their teams. 

Defect tracking helps teams to ensure that the issues found in their system are actually fixed. It is a favorable situation where developers and testers can communicate and recreate a bug together. If the issue is resolved immediately, it can save time and effort. Sometimes, it does not even need to be logged, however it should be written somewhere on a to-do list so that it does not slip through their minds. 

Defect tracking tools are not only useful in ensuring follow-through but also help teams by providing them with valuable metrics. QA teams can associate defects, changed code, tests, or other data that will allow for traceability. If there are defects in a certain module, they will review and rewrite that module. These tools also provide a repository of documentation that support personnel later if they need to work on an issue. When a bug is fixed, tested, or marked resolved is also updated and sends notifications to the stakeholders of a project.  

The Downside of Defect Tracking

There are a few disadvantages of defect tracking tools that revolve around the overhead of the processes and tools, rather than the defect tracking process itself. Some organizations use multiple tools to track defects of various types and the tools do not even integrate with one another. QA teams may often end up with the same defect document in multiple places with slightly different descriptions. 

There can be different confusions and complications caused due to the lack of information. Certain tools are complicated and require mandatory fields for which users do not normally have answers and face difficulty in reporting. Sometimes, the entire process cost required to open a bug exceeds than simply resolving it. 

Conclusion 

QA and development teams need to work together to decide when defects will be tracked so that they can optimize the defect tracking tools for proper flow, communication, and quality. They need to have a process flow to handle defects. Whether you have complicated tools or simple sticky notes, it is important to let your teams decide which tools are the best for your projects.