Test And Try

I have written not once about the management of test documentation and the role of this process in obtaining high quality. Knowledge is one thing, the second is a bunch of tools that with no great amount of work will allows us to implement this knowledge into real. I am a fan of JIRA as defect tracking application and as a platform to create new stuff.

Recently I learned about a new plugin, the manufacturer, the company Go2Group assures us that this is the perfect solution for those who are looking for requirements management in conjunction with the testing and reporting. Let’s check it.

Instalation
Easy simple installation asks only to spe specify JIRA path. After successful extracting you must restart JIRA services.
Login as administrator and do not click SYNAPSE on main menu (there will be an error) – first go to Administration/System/Synapse and create or associate issue types for requirment and test case.
Put license key – trial or full – You cannot create test cases without it.

Idea
Jira is responsible for defect tracking but we have a hole in requirement and test planning area. Synapse is based on simple workflow: Release – Requirements – TestCases – Defects.

Test It
First take some project or create test one, add some versions/releases – I will add 0.1 and 0.2 with dates.
Then add 3 requirements for each of releases in example : Add Function 1, Add Function 2, …

Go to Add function 1 issue, we can see new features in JIRA panels:

• Test Case Coverage tab
• Issue coverage tab
• Create Test Case button in left panel
• Create Bug button in left panel

Now we will create test case for the requirement. On new issue screen we will see requirement list with already selected “Add function 1′, all other fields are standard. We can now navigate thought Requirement tab -> connected issues and the other way.

Next important feature is adding bugs connected with test case to achieve test case issue coverage report, we can do it on left panel.

Dashboard – The Clue
When we click Synapse main menu item we gain access to, I think, the best part of synapse JIRA plugin – dashboard. Divided into Traceability and Release Planning tabs.

Traceability

• list of requirement, test cases and defects by project / release
• requirement burndown chart – based on time tracking options
• test case coverage chart – closed vs open per release
• other drill down lists and grids

Release planning

• agile like white board with sticky papers – great
• easily move, connect with mouse
• very helpful for project managers
• one screen but full overview
• team collaboration with cork board on the right

Plus

• Simple installation
• Click install, click use in a couple of minutes
• Simplicity
• Reports – Dashboard

Minus
Only two levels: Test Suite -> Test Case, what about Test Case steps ?

Summary
If you are using JIRA for defect tracking and do not have any test case tool or test case procedures go for Synapse. I will help you start thinking about the way of handling requirements, test cases and defects in one simple space.

Future of the plugin ?

• leveraging the new JIRA 4 framework
• charts in dashboard and sub-levels for requirements, defects, etc.
• hook into Quality Center via another Go2Group product, JaM Plugin, allowing synapseRT users to view QC artifacts within the traceability/planning dashboards

After all synapseRT is included in JIRA starter pack http://www.atlassian.com/starter/extras.jsp

Links
Documentation http://www.go2group.com/display/SYNAPSERT4/03.+Documentation

Related Posts

1. Test Case Management in JIRA #3
2. Test Case Management in JIRA #2
3. Test Case Management in JIRA #1
4. Elementool – Test Case Management Review
5. Visualize Your JIRA Workflow

Marcin Zręda Examples, Test tools, jira, process improvment, reviews go2group, jira, plugin, requirement, review, synapsert, test case, testcases