Posted on Author Pallavi Godse Categories Blog

Best Practices for Software Development 2023

Best Practices for Software Development 2023

Introduction:

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, software development continues to play a crucial role in shaping businesses and driving innovation. As technology continues to advance, software development practices evolve to meet the demands of an ever-changing landscape. As we delve into the year 2023, it is essential to identify and adopt the best practices that can help us stay ahead of the curve. This blog aims to highlight the key best practices for software development in 2023 and provide insights into how they can contribute to successful project outcomes.

1. Agile Development:

Agile development methodologies have gained significant popularity in recent years, and they remain one of the best practices for software development in 2023. Emphasising iterative and incremental development, Agile methodologies enable flexibility, adaptability, and rapid feedback loops. Popular frameworks like Scrum and Kanban provide structured approaches to managing projects, allowing teams to deliver high-quality software in shorter cycles.

2. Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD):

The integration of code changes and their continuous delivery are paramount for maintaining a seamless development workflow. CI/CD practices enable automated build, test, and deployment processes, ensuring that software changes are regularly integrated into a shared repository. By automating these processes, developers can catch and fix issues early, resulting in faster delivery cycles and more reliable software releases.

3. DevOps Culture:

Collaboration between development, operations, and other stakeholders is crucial for successful software development projects. DevOps practices encourage the integration of development and operations teams, fostering a culture of shared responsibility and communication. By breaking down silos and automating infrastructure provisioning, deployment, and monitoring, DevOps practices enable faster time to market, improved quality, and better stability. Below image depicts various tools available today for DevOps practices.

4. Containerization and Microservices:

Containerization, using platforms like Docker and Kubernetes, allows developers to package applications and their dependencies into portable, isolated containers. This approach simplifies deployment, scalability, and maintenance. Microservices architecture complements containerization by breaking down applications into smaller, loosely coupled services, enabling easier development, scaling, and fault isolation.

What is Containerization: Containerization is a software deployment process that bundles an application’s code with all the files and libraries it needs to run on any infrastructure. Traditionally, to run any application on your computer, you had to install the version that matched your machine’s operating system. For example, you needed to install the Windows version of a software package on a Windows machine. However, with containerization, you can create a single software package, or container, that runs on all types of devices and operating systems. 

5. Security-First Approach:

With the growing number of cybersecurity threats, it is vital to incorporate security practices throughout the software development lifecycle. Developers should follow secure coding practices, conduct regular security assessments, and implement necessary measures such as encryption, access controls, and input validation. Staying updated on the latest security vulnerabilities and adopting secure coding frameworks helps protect sensitive data and maintain the trust of users.

6. Test-Driven Development (TDD):

Test-Driven Development is a methodology that emphasises writing tests before developing the corresponding code. By following TDD practices, developers can ensure that the software meets the required functionality and is thoroughly tested. TDD promotes code quality, reduces defects, and improves overall software design.

7. Cloud-Native Development:

Cloud computing has revolutionised the software industry, and in 2023, cloud-native development has gained significant traction. Cloud-native applications are built specifically for the cloud environment, leveraging its scalability, resilience, and agility. Microservices architecture, containerization (e.g., Docker), and orchestration tools (e.g., Kubernetes) are essential components of cloud-native development. Organisations are adopting cloud-native practices to improve scalability, reduce costs, and enhance deployment flexibility.

8. Code Review and Quality Assurance:

Code quality should be a top priority in software development. Implementing regular code reviews ensures that code is clean, maintainable, and adheres to coding standards. Peer code reviews help identify bugs, improve design, and share knowledge among team members. Additionally, automated testing practices, including unit tests, integration tests, and regression tests, contribute to overall quality assurance and reduce the likelihood of introducing new bugs.

9. Documentation and Knowledge Management:

Comprehensive and up-to-date documentation is essential for maintaining and evolving software systems. Developers should invest time in documenting code, APIs, architectural decisions, and system configurations. Adopting knowledge management practices, such as maintaining a centralised knowledge base or utilising wikis, helps preserve institutional knowledge and facilitates future development.

Conclusion:

As software development evolves, embracing the best practices for 2023 is essential to stay competitive and deliver high-quality software products. Agile methodologies, CI/CD practices, collaboration through DevOps, code review, quality assurance, security considerations, and cloud computing with microservices are key areas to focus on. By adopting these best practices, development teams can optimise their processes, reduce time to market, and deliver robust software solutions that meet user expectations in the ever-changing software landscape of 2023.

Satinder Singh

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Posted on Author Pallavi Godse Categories Blog

10 Cyber Security Myths to Let Go of in 2023

10 Cyber Security Myths to Let Go Off in 2023

Cybersecurity is a hot topic these days, and for good reason. With the ever-increasing reliance on technology, businesses and individuals are at an increased risk of cyberattacks.

As there are new breaches, hacks, and attacks daily, inadequate cybersecurity preparedness could result in a catastrophic outcome.

So, how do you stay ahead of things?  First – by knowing what’s real and what’s misinformation. Unfortunately, there are a few common misunderstandings about cybersecurity that can lead to people taking unnecessary risks. Let’s clear these myths today.

10 Common Cybersecurity Myths

1. Only big businesses are targeted by hackers. 

This is simply not true. Hackers will target anyone, regardless of their size or industry. In fact, small businesses are often targeted because they are seen as being less secure than larger businesses. While SMBs may not be explicitly targeted, often they are victims of spray-and-pray attacks.

2. My antivirus software is enough to protect me. 

Antivirus software is an important part of cybersecurity, but it is not enough on its own. You also need to practice good security habits, such as using strong passwords, being careful about what links you click on, and keeping your software up to date.

3. I’m not important enough to be hacked. 

This is a dangerous myth. When you sign the Terms and Conditions of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, you’re signing away your right to privacy, which lets the apps build a detailed demographic profile of you.

Everyone is at risk of being hacked, regardless of their importance or social status. Hackers are always looking for new targets, and they don’t care who you are. For mature cybersecurity, the organization should adopt a comprehensive cybersecurity plan that will have everything from the incident response team, plan to insider threat detection and employee training and awareness.

4. I’ll know if I’m being hacked. 

Not necessarily. Hackers are becoming more sophisticated and can hide their tracks. It’s possible that you could be hacked without even realizing it.

5. I can’t do anything to prevent a Cyberattack. 

This is not true. There are several things you can do to protect yourself from cyberattacks, such as practicing good security habits, using a firewall, and backing up your data.

6. Cybersecurity is too expensive. 

Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be too expensive. There are several low-cost security measures you can take to protect yourself. Also, the expense of not enforcing any security extents is higher.

According to IBM’s ‘Cost of a Data Breach Report’ showed that in 2022, the global average cost of a data breach was $4.35M USD (approx. $6.5M AUD).

7. My employees are too smart to be tricked by hackers. 

This is a common misconception. Even the smartest people can be tricked by hackers. That’s why it’s important to train your employees on how to spot and avoid phishing scams and other cyberattacks.

8. Once I’ve been hacked, there’s nothing I can do 

Another myth. There are a several things you can do to recover from a cyberattack, such as changing your passwords, scanning your computer for malware, and reporting the attack to the authorities.

9. Cybersecurity is someone else’s problem

This is a dangerous attitude. Cybersecurity is everyone’s problem. We all need to do our part to protect ourselves and our businesses from cyberattacks. The culture change needed to address this in a real and meaningful way comes from leadership while real cybersecurity preparedness is the responsibility of every employee.

10. I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it

This is a risky approach to cybersecurity. It’s better to be proactive and take steps to protect yourself now, rather than waiting until it’s too late.

By understanding and debunking these common cybersecurity myths, you can help to protect yourself and your business from cyberattacks.

Here are some additional tips for improving your cybersecurity:

  • Use strong passwords and don’t reuse them across different websites and services.
  • Be careful about what links you click on, especially in emails and social media messages.
  • Keep your software up to date, including your operating system, web browser, and antivirus software.
  • Back up your data regularly.
  • Train your employees on how to spot and avoid phishing scams and other cyberattacks.
  • Report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

 

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Posted on Author Pallavi Godse Categories Blog

How to increase the velocity of Sprint testing

How to Increase the Velocity of Sprint Testing?


In a fast-delivering agile world, there is a need for increasing the speed of the testing without compromising the quality. Sometimes, MVP (Most Viable Product) releases have a timeline of 45 days. In such a short span, requirements, wireframes, solution design, build, testing, SIT, UAT, security testing, and implementation should happen in time.

Also, as part of cost-cutting well established organisations are reducing testing costs by performing sprint testing in a “one layer above and one layer below” passion.  SIT and UAT are combined as IAT (Integrated Acceptance testing).  So, there is a lot of emphasis on sprint testing in an agile world for delivering a quality product.

When can we start sprint testing??

We can start sprint testing from the very early stage of the project life cycle i.e right from the program increment (PI) planning by considering dependencies/blockers and risks.

Inflight testing

Before the start of a sprint, we may be given a demo of requirements and solution design. We need to perform an impact assessment of new features to the existing code/systems/data and then plan inflight testing accordingly.

Static testing

Performing static testing on the requirements, solution, and wireframes can help to uncover bugs in the early stages of the life cycle.

Test preparation- “Three Amigo session”

Business, Developers, and testers use a different lens while digesting the requirements. If we allow all of them to work independently, they may blame each other for the understanding gaps at the end. “Three amigo session” is one solution for this. It is a meeting set up by a tester where a quick test preparation is done on the fly under the presence of BA, dev, and tester.

Automation

BDD framework like cucumber is the most suitable automation framework for sprint testing. If UI is unstable then we can go one level below and automate the API testing. Based on cost and time parameters, we can do progressive automation and integrate with DevOps pipelines.

Test Execution:

We can start testing whatever that’s readily available. Sometimes, back-end changes get delivered by other scrum teams in future sprints. We can still test UI/API code built by our scrum team by stubbing the back end.  Once, full integration is established we can do early integration testing by covering a few important features and handover the build for further testing like IAT. However, it takes a good coordination effort between testing teams to start IAT testing in parallel with sprint testing.

Sprint Demo:

To uncover UAT bugs upfront, a sprint demo can be given to the business at the end of every sprint.

I wanted to conclude by saying “Sprint tester needs to have craftmanship in every role while building a project.”

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Posted on Author Pallavi Godse Categories Blog

Importance of Test Automation in the Agile World​

Importance of Test Automation in the Agile World​

Test automation is becoming increasingly important in today’s fast-paced, agile development environments. Accelerated product release requires accelerated coding, which needs accelerated testing. Every time an application (or updates to the application) hits the market, it needs to be perfectly functional for each user. The ability to quickly and efficiently test code changes is crucial for maintaining the quality of a software product and ensuring that bugs are caught and fixed early in the development process. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of test automation in an agile world and how it can help your development team work more efficiently and effectively.

In traditional software development methods, testing is often done manually, which can be time-consuming and error-prone. Automation testing, on the other hand, allows for the automation of repetitive and time-consuming tasks, such as regression testing. This means that the team can focus on more important tasks, such as writing new code and fixing bugs.

One of the main benefits of test automation in an agile environment is its ability to provide fast feedback on code changes. In an agile development process, code changes are made frequently and rapidly, and manual testing can become a bottleneck in the development process. Automated tests can be run quickly and consistently, allowing for faster feedback on code changes and reducing the risk of introducing bugs into the codebase. This helps to ensure that the code is of high quality and ready for release to the end user.

Another important benefit of test automation is its ability to save time and resources. Automated tests can be run in parallel, which helps to speed up the testing process and allows developers to focus on other important tasks. This can be especially beneficial for large, complex codebases where manual testing would be impractical or impossible. Additionally, automated tests can be run on a schedule, allowing for regular testing without the need for manual intervention.

Test automation also helps to improve the overall efficiency of the development process. When tests are automated, developers can be confident that their code changes will not cause any problems in other parts of the codebase. This helps to reduce the risk of bugs and improves the overall reliability of the software product. Additionally, test automation helps to ensure that new features and functionality are implemented correctly, and work as expected.

In conclusion, test automation is an essential tool for maintaining the quality of a software product and ensuring that it meets the needs of the end user. It allows for faster and more efficient testing of code changes, saves time and resources, and improves the overall efficiency of the development process. If you’re not currently utilising test automation in your development process, it’s worth considering how it can help your team work more effectively and efficiently.

Vinitha Kumari B

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Posted on Author Pallavi Godse Categories Blog

Sugar-Free January

Sugar-Free January

What’s a birthday without a cake?

What’s Christmas without candy canes

What’s Diwali without Gulab Jamun?

In our eyes, it would be an occasion that isn’t celebrated to its fullest! In short, some of our happiest and most important festivities in life are celebrated with sugar and sweets. It’s no secret that this tongue-tickling ingredient is everywhere from a basic bread loaf to a carton of milk!  

Whilst it’s common knowledge that excess consumption of sugar can lead to heart disease, obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure; it’s easy for us to say that in the corporate world for one to live with less sugar is a far-fetched goal.

However, here at Adactin, we have some role models who have taken up this NO SUGAR challenge, so why not get some guidance from the experts?

Our Chief Operations Officer (COO) Sapna Bhatia is not only one of the core founders and leaders here at Adactin but is also one of the members of Adactin Group’s health committee. Sapna was an early adopter of the NO SUGAR CHALLENGE and till today practices and continues a lifestyle with healthier habits in moderation.

Sapna says “Everyone has chocolate cravings and I’m no different but my tip is if you’re craving chocolate, opt for dark chocolate instead! If you’re used to sweet coffee then add cinnamon, I promise you these tricks will satisfy the cravings and also help you reduce your sugar intake”

Adactin Group’s General Manager – Samrat Biswal has also been on a sugar detox, he believes cutting sugar out of his diet makes you aware of what you’re eating and has given him more energy! Samrat took up this challenge and was only consuming natural sources of sugar via whole fruits!

Samrat believes “Fruit is really a miracle food. It’s not only delicious but full of nutrients. So yes, it’s possible to eat fruit and satisfy your cravings”

So yes, it is a human tendency to crave sugar after a tedious day of work however many things can be done to not only fight your cravings but also to prevent them.

Drinking water consistently throughout the day is an excellent method as dehydration can cause cravings. This can be achieved by having a water bottle at your desk or setting up an app to give you regular reminders to drink water. Getting at least 8 hours of sleep and eating a healthy and filling meal instead of starving yourself can also help prevent cravings. It’s easy to lose track of your meals and sleep especially while working or being sedentary during busy times. However, it’s extremely important to take care of your mind and body as a poor sleep schedule has been proven to impact your immune system.

Another approach could be to take a brisk walk outside during lunch or morning tea breaks which can help you clear your mind of any excess stress.

We believe that giving in to a craving will just feed the addiction. However, if you manage to remain diligent and resist, the cravings will get weaker over time and eventually disappear.

Marketing team

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